Pakistan's defense minister threatens 'illegitimate' Israel after inking pact with Saudis, Turkey

Key Points:

• Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif labeled Israel as a threat to the Muslim world and called for a united military front among Muslim countries against it, following a joint defense agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
• Asif criticized Israel’s origins linked to the Balfour Declaration and stated that opposition to Israel will persist regardless of changes in Israeli leadership, emphasizing unresolved Palestinian issues as a core concern.
• Pakistan maintains no diplomatic relations with Israel, refusing recognition until a Palestinian state is established, and has a history of opposing Israeli sovereignty since 1947.
• The trilateral defense pact signed by Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia mirrors NATO’s Article 5, committing members to mutual defense, with Turkey highlighting the pact’s openness to expansion and its focus on regional security, particularly against threats like Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan clarified the alliance is not aimed at Iran and emphasized cooperation on commercial security in the Red Sea, with potential future inclusion of Egypt once technical issues are resolved.