ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has described the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the Badr defense cooperation initiative among Pakistan, Qatar, Indonesia and Türkiye as a reflection of their shared commitment to regional peace and stability. In a statement posted on social media platform X, Khawaja Asif said Pakistan attached great importance to strengthening defense cooperation with trusted partners. “The Badr MOU reflects our shared commitment to regional peace and stability,” the defense minister said. He added that Pakistan looked forward to exploring opportunities for self-reliance, industrial cooperation, joint production and technology transfer in accordance with relevant international and domestic laws. The MOU for the Badr initiative was signed to promote cooperation among the defense industries of Pakistan, Qatar, Türkiye and Indonesia. Defense ministers and senior officials from the four countries’ relevant defense institutions attended the signing ceremony. Pakistan was represented by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and Minister for Defense Production Muhammad Raza Hayat Hiraj. Turkey’s Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and Indonesia’s Deputy Defense Minister also participated in the ceremony. According to a statement issued by Qatar’s Ministry of Defense, the Badr initiative aims to enhance defense production and industrial cooperation among the four participating countries. The four countries agreed to strengthen their defense capabilities and expand cooperation in the defense sector Under the MOU, cooperation will be promoted in defense training, research and development. The Badr initiative will also facilitate collaboration in developing advanced technologies and industrial solutions in line with modern defense requirements. The initiative seeks to leverage the defense production capabilities of the four countries to enhance industrial collaboration and build capacity within their respective defense industries. The statement said the Badr initiative would also help meet the defense requirements of allied and friendly countries. The MOU is expected to further strengthen defense industrial cooperation, technical collaboration and strategic partnerships among Pakistan, Qatar, Türkiye and Indonesia.
