{"id":3618,"date":"2026-01-15T09:37:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T09:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/?p=3618"},"modified":"2026-01-15T09:37:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T09:37:21","slug":"pakistan-increases-diplomacy-arms-sales-in-middle-east-and-north-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/?p=3618","title":{"rendered":"Pakistan Increases Diplomacy, Arms Sales in Middle East and North Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n<div data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<p>Welcome to\u00a0<em>Foreign Policy<\/em>\u2019s South Asia Brief.<\/p>\n<p>The highlights this week: Pakistan ups its <strong>engagement in the<\/strong> <strong>Middle East<\/strong>, new <strong>U.S. ambassadors to Bangladesh and India<\/strong> assume their posts, and a <strong>promising political candidate<\/strong> rises in Nepal.<\/p>\n<div class=\"newsletter-unit-signup--shortcode-fallback\">\n<h2 class=\"dek-heading\">\n                <\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/category\/south-asia-brief\/\">Sign up<\/a>  to receive South Asia Brief in your inbox every Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<form data-shortcode-newsletter=\"south_asia_brief\" class=\"newsletter-unit-signup newsletter-unit-signup--shortcode email-capture--step-1 newsletter-unit-signup--shortcode-south_asia_brief\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-south_asia_brief newsletter-shortcode-south_asia_brief\">\n<div class=\"show-on-email-capture--signed-up hide-from-newsletter-subscriber newsletter-unit-signup--shortcode--container\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-unit newsletter-row\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-south_asia_brief\">\n<h2 class=\"dek-heading\">Sign up to receive South Asia Brief in your inbox every Wednesday.<\/h2>\n<p>\n                        <button class=\"button\">Sign Up<\/button>\n                    <\/p>\n<div class=\"grid--flex newsletter-south_asia_brief newsletter-signup-container\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"South Asia Brief sign up form\" tabindex=\"0\">\n<div class=\"buttons\">\n<div class=\"hide-from-newsletter-subscriber privacy-policy-container\">\n<div class=\"privacy-policy-acknowledge\">\n<p><small>By submitting your email, you agree to the <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/privacy\/\" target=\"_blank\">Privacy Policy<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/termsofuse\/\" target=\"_blank\">Terms of Use<\/a> and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.<\/small><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n    <label for=\"email-south_asia_brief\">Enter your email<\/label><br \/>\n    <input type=\"email\" name=\"email\" class=\"hide-from-reg hide-from-sub\" id=\"email-south_asia_brief\" aria-required=\"true\" required=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <button class=\"button button--signup \" data-newsletter-id=\"south_asia_brief\" data-sourceid=\"In-article unit\" type=\"submit\"><br \/>\n      <span class=\"sign-up-text\">Sign Up<\/span><br \/>\n      <span class=\"loading-text\">Loading&#8230;<\/span><br \/>\n    <\/button>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<p>        <em><br \/><\/em><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>Pakistan\u2019s High-Stakes MENA Play<\/h3>\n<p>Pakistan is stepping up its engagement in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).<\/p>\n<p>Last Friday, Reuters <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/aerospace-defense\/pakistan-nears-15-billion-deal-supply-weapons-jets-sudan-sources-say-2026-01-09\/\">reported<\/a> that Pakistan is close to finalizing a $1.5 billion weapons deal with Sudan, following <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/pakistan-strikes-4-billion-deal-sell-weapons-libyan-force-officials-say-2025-12-22\/\">reports<\/a> last month of a separate $4 billion arms package with the Libyan National Army (LNA). Pakistan is also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.middleeasteye.net\/news\/saudi-arabia-and-pakistan-talks-swap-loans-jf-17-warplanes-report\">negotiating<\/a> a new arms deal with longtime ally Saudi Arabia, with whom it recently <a href=\"https:\/\/thebulletin.org\/2025\/10\/the-saudi-pakistani-strategic-mutual-defense-pact-that-no-one-saw-coming\/\">inked<\/a> a mutual defense treaty. There are indications that another close partner, Turkey, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-01-09\/turkey-said-to-seek-membership-of-saudi-pakistan-defense-pact\">could soon join<\/a> that pact. Furthermore, Pakistan has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arabnews.com\/node\/2628631\/pakistan\">expressed interest<\/a> in joining an international stabilization mission in Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>With recent developments across the MENA region consuming global attention, Pakistan is leveraging its geographic proximity and strong ties with key states to make a case for its strategic relevance.<\/p>\n<p>There are many potential motivations for Islamabad\u2019s outreach. Interest in Gaza likely reflects a desire to strengthen ties with Washington. The arms deals\u2014many of which center on fighter jets\u2014aim to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenews.pk\/print\/1392420-from-air-defence-to-a-25bn-export-offence\">capitalize<\/a> on the Pakistan Air Force\u2019s impressive performance in last May\u2019s conflict with India. Islamabad may also hope to counter India\u2019s influence in the Middle East and compensate for its difficulty forging deep partnerships in its own neighborhood.<\/p>\n<p>Though Pakistan\u2019s MENA play could bolster its credentials as an emerging net security provider, it also risks entanglement with geopolitical rivalries it has long sought to avoid. Pakistan has close ties with both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, but arms transfers to Sudan could embroil Pakistan in their tensions over the Sudanese civil war. Bringing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osw.waw.pl\/en\/publikacje\/analyses\/2025-12-02\/turkeys-policy-towards-libya-a-year-major-shifts\">Turkey<\/a> into the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia pact is similarly risky, given that these countries have backed opposing sides in Libya (though in recent months Ankara has signaled a policy shift and pursued deeper engagement with the LNA).<\/p>\n<p>Another element of Pakistan\u2019s MENA play is its attempt to mediate U.S.-Iran tensions, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1928142\">yielded modest results<\/a> last summer and was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.state.gov\/releases\/office-of-the-spokesperson\/2025\/07\/secretary-rubios-meeting-with-pakistani-deputy-prime-minister-foreign-minister-dar\">well received<\/a> by Washington. Some analysts have <a href=\"https:\/\/gulfif.org\/pakistan-offers-another-vector-for-u-s-iran-diplomacy\/\">urged<\/a> Islamabad to revive these efforts to help forestall possible U.S. military action in Iran, where it has <a href=\"https:\/\/nationalinterest.org\/blog\/silk-road-rivalries\/why-pakistan-does-not-want-irans-government-to-fall\">strong incentives<\/a> to prevent escalation.<\/p>\n<p>While Pakistan and Iran maintain generally cordial ties, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pmo.gov.pk\/news_details.php?news_id=1331\">several<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/radio.gov.pk\/26-05-2025\/pm-arrives-in-tehran-on-two-day-visit-to-iran\">high-level visits<\/a> over the last year, the relationship is fragile. A brief <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iiss.org\/publications\/strategic-comments\/2024\/03\/the-tit-for-tat-conflict-between-iran-and-pakistan\/\">military<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/opinion\/iran-pushing-pakistan-breaking-point-2861199?srsltid=AfmBOoqxf_7O5VUh9J-AvLLDmKNDrvptgKHnupOpgODKeHBKBEMhloxo\">clash<\/a> in 2024 highlighted persistent concerns over cross-border militancy and Pakistan\u2019s alliance with Saudi Arabia. Growing ties with Washington also won\u2019t sit well with Tehran, limiting Islamabad\u2019s leverage as a mediator.<\/p>\n<p>Pakistan has long sought to project itself as a neutral actor in the Middle East while shielding itself from regional instability, even as it protects its sizable commercial interests and large expatriate population, particularly in the Gulf.<\/p>\n<p>As Islamabad deepens its footprint in this volatile region, it will need to balance its security partnership ambitions with careful risk management. Given ongoing tensions with Afghanistan and India and the serious terrorism challenges it faces at home, Pakistan can ill afford new sources of instability further afield.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>What We\u2019re Following<\/h3>\n<p><strong>New U.S. ambassadors<\/strong><strong>.<\/strong> The new U.S. ambassadors to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedailystar.net\/news\/newly-appointed-us-ambassador-brent-christensen-arrives-dhaka-4079281\">Bangladesh<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/india\/incredible-opportunities-us-ambassador-designate-sergio-gor-arrives-in-india-visit-coincides-with-ongoing-tariff-tensions\/articleshow\/126443063.cms\">India<\/a> assumed their posts this past week\u2014and their backgrounds are as different as the relationships they will be overseeing.<\/p>\n<p>The envoy to Bangladesh, Brent Christensen, is a seasoned diplomat who was previously posted to the country and knows it well. In contrast, the envoy to India, Sergio Gor, is a powerful political figure in Washington, though he lacks diplomatic and regional experience. He\u2019ll double as U.S. special envoy for South and Central Asia.<\/p>\n<p>U.S.-Bangladesh ties are <a href=\"https:\/\/counterpointbd.com\/decoding-the-dc-dhaka-dance\">modest but cordial<\/a>. Since U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s return to office, the two sides have held a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.state.gov\/releases\/office-of-the-spokesperson\/2025\/06\/secretary-rubios-call-with-bangladesh-chief-advisor-yunus\">series<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedailystar.net\/news\/bangladesh\/news\/bangladesh-prepared-free-fair-polls-february-yunus-tells-us-envoy-3992321\">high-level engagements<\/a> and conducted several joint <a href=\"https:\/\/bd.usembassy.gov\/united-states-and-bangladesh-strengthen-defense-partnership-through-joint-military-exercise-tiger-shark\/\">military exercises<\/a>. With few major points of friction, Christensen\u2019s experience and strong reputation in Dhaka should be good for the relationship.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, U.S.-India ties are <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2025\/12\/10\/us-india-relationship-cooperation-diplomacy-trade-deal\/\">in crisis<\/a>. Tensions over tariffs, India\u2019s relationship with Russia, and growing U.S. engagement with Pakistan have eroded trust in New Delhi. Yet Gor struck an optimistic tone during his Senate confirmation hearings, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbctv18.com\/world\/sergio-gor-us-ambassador-designate-to-india-confirmation-hearing-senate-foreign-relations-committee-quad-india-china-brics-trade-19672015.htm\">praising<\/a> the U.S.-India partnership. In a speech Monday, he also <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/us-india-pax-silica-significance-10469194\/\">announced<\/a> that India would be invited to join Pax Silica, an artificial intelligence supply chain initiative.<\/p>\n<p>Given Gor\u2019s political clout within the Trump administration, his pro-India stance is a positive sign. Still, rebuilding the trust that Washington has <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2025\/12\/10\/us-india-relationship-cooperation-diplomacy-trade-deal\/\">squandered<\/a> in New Delhi will be a formidable challenge.<\/p>\n<p><strong>U.S.-India trade talks<\/strong><strong>.<\/strong> U.S. officials have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/india\/india-us-discuss-trade-issues-january-13-new-envoy-says-2026-01-12\/\">indicated<\/a> that trade talks with India are ongoing, with further discussions taking place this week. Months of negotiations have thus far failed to reduce the 50 percent U.S. tariffs on Indian goods, among the highest imposed on any country.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/2026\/01\/09\/us-trump-india-trade-deal-lutnick\/\">implied<\/a> that India may have missed its best chance to finalize an agreement, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi declined to call Trump to seal the deal last year\u2014an account New Delhi <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c4gvp5gyd7xo\">disputes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Complicating matters further, a recent bipartisan <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/senate-bill\/1241\">bill<\/a> in the U.S. Senate would impose whopping 500 percent tariffs on countries importing Russian energy. If enacted, it would be a massive blow to trade talks. India has already reduced its Russian oil purchases since new U.S. sanctions were introduced in November, and New Delhi likely believes it has met U.S. demands in this respect.<\/p>\n<p>This leaves New Delhi in a difficult political position: reluctant to offer further concessions to an administration that has badly angered the Indian public, yet under continued U.S. pressure to open its heavily protected agricultural sector\u2014another demand fraught with domestic political risk.<\/p>\n<p><strong>New political platform in Bangladesh<\/strong><strong>.<\/strong> Earlier this week, a group of former members of Bangladesh\u2019s National Citizen Party (NCP)\u2014many of them young leaders of the 2024 mass uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedailystar.net\/news\/faction-july-uprising-activists-ncp-breakaways-unveil-new-platform-friday-4080196\">announced<\/a> a new political platform. The group has not said whether the initiative, set to formally launch Friday, will become a political party. But it has emphasized its desire to break from traditional party structures, including through a rotating leadership model meant to distribute power more evenly.<\/p>\n<p>The new initiative is a blow to the NCP. While many of its policy positions resonate with the public, the party must contend with the vast resources and entrenched base of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the clear favorite for the upcoming February elections.<\/p>\n<p>Despite its emphasis on new leaders and parties, the NCP recently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedailystar.net\/news\/how-ncp-jamaat-coalition-benefits-jamaat-and-bnp-more-4077191\">formed<\/a> an electoral alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, a long-established Islamist party. While a Jamaat-led alliance may pose the strongest challenge to the BNP, unseating the party will be difficult.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>FP\u2019s Most Read This Week<\/h3>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>Under the Radar<\/h3>\n<p>With Nepal\u2019s March elections approaching, Balendra Shah is a figure to watch. A former rapper and the current mayor of Kathmandu, Shah has his sights set on becoming prime minister. Late last month, he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2025\/dec\/28\/nepal-tv-host-and-ex-rapper-mayor-form-alliance-for-election-after-youth-revolt\">formed an alliance<\/a> with another unconventional political figure, Rabi Lamichhane\u2014a television host who founded the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>Together, they are betting that public appetite for younger, nontraditional leadership will give the RSP an electoral boost. While Lamichhane, 51, isn\u2019t young, he draws strong support from younger voters despite ongoing legal challenges tied to fraud allegations.<\/p>\n<p>At 35, Shah is better placed to be a youth candidate. What makes his story especially interesting is that he is contesting the election from a Kathmandu constituency <a href=\"https:\/\/kathmandupost.com\/national\/2026\/01\/13\/balendra-shah-s-hint-at-candidacy-heats-jhapa-5-politics\">long dominated<\/a> by KP Sharma Oli, the prime minister ousted in mass protests last year. Shah was floated as a possible interim prime minister and played a role in forming the interim government, further raising his profile.<\/p>\n<p>Shah is also a bit of a <a href=\"https:\/\/english.onlinekhabar.com\/the-rise-power-and-paradoxes-of-balen.html\">paradox<\/a>: Despite his celebrity status, he doesn\u2019t communicate much with the public and the media, relying largely on his own social media. Supporters argue this helps him avoid overpromising to voters, but the approach risks hurting him at the polls by making him appear aloof and out of touch.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2026\/01\/14\/pakistan-middle-east-diplomacy-arms-sales-iran-sudan-libya-saudi-arabia-turkey-gaza\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to\u00a0Foreign Policy\u2019s South Asia Brief. The highlights this week: Pakistan ups its engagement in the Middle East, new U.S. ambassadors to Bangladesh and India assume their posts, and a promising political candidate rises in Nepal. Sign up to receive South Asia Brief in your inbox every Wednesday. Sign up to receive South Asia Brief [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3619,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3618","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-politcical-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3618","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3618"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3618\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3619"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3618"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3618"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3618"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}