Long rumoured and whispered about in the corridors of international power, the idea of a Turkey–Saudi Arabia–Pakistan defence agreement now appears to be moving closer to reality. For the first time, officials in both Pakistan and Turkey have publicly acknowledged that discussions are taking place. While they have been careful to stress that no final decision has yet been made, the very fact that such talks are being openly discussed at official levels suggests that they have reached an advanced stage.

Should Turkey formally join the existing Pakistan–Saudi Arabia defence understanding with a commitment to mutual defence, it would mark one of the most significant shifts in Middle Eastern strategic dynamics in decades. While it would fall........

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