Comment by Riaz Haq yesterday

Iran should join Saudi-Pakistan defense pact, (Supreme) Leader's adviser says as Israeli threats intensify - Tehran Times

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/518450/Iran-should-join-Saudi-Paki...

TEHRAN – A top military adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution has welcomed the newly signed defense agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, describing it as a positive step for regional security while underlining Iran’s own military readiness and commitment to deterrence.

Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi said in a televised interview on Saturday that the “Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement” signed in Riyadh between Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman should be regarded as constructive.

“We assess this treaty as positive. Pakistan has announced that other countries can join, and I recommend that Iran also participate,” Safavi said. “Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Iraq could move toward a collective pact. Even though Saudi Arabia and Pakistan would not finalize such an agreement without U.S. approval, we should declare readiness as a regional power. This falls under our military diplomacy and foreign policy to take an active role in regional defense-security treaties.”

The Saudi-Pakistani deal, signed on Saturday, September 17, pledges that any act of aggression against either country will be considered an attack on both, requiring a joint response. The agreement, which the two sides described as “landmark,” aims to enhance mutual deterrence.

The signing came one day before an emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha on Sunday, convened after deadly Israeli airstrikes on Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital. The strikes occurred amid ongoing Qatari mediation efforts to halt Israel’s war on Gaza.

Since the attacks, several countries, including Iran and Pakistan, have called for the creation of a regional coalition to defend Muslim nations against foreign-backed aggression. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also said that the assault on Qatar could not have happened without U.S. consent, urging Muslim countries to establish a NATO-style Islamic military alliance.

The strikes occurred despite the presence of a major American military base in Qatar, underscoring regional accusations that Washington allowed the assault to proceed.

Alongside support for regional cooperation, Iranian commanders reiterated their forces’ full preparedness to defend the country against any threat.

Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, praised the achievements of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), particularly its Aerospace Force, during Iran’s recent 12-day defensive campaign against U.S. and Israeli aggression.

“These victories reflect the faith, innovation, and resilience of our commanders and fighters. They demonstrate that the strategy of active deterrence and decisive, crushing response is effective and instructive,” Mousavi said during a Sunday meeting with Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Major General Mohammad Pakpour. He added that Iran is continuing to modernize its defense systems and that coordination between the Army and IRGC ensures both deterrence and the safeguarding of national independence.

Major General Amir Hatami, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, echoed the message, stressing that Iran constantly monitors adversary activities and will respond firmly to any miscalculation. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Army’s 23rd joint cadet training program during Sacred Defense Week, Hatami reminded young officers of the Army’s mission to safeguard independence, territorial integrity, and the Islamic Republic.

“The enemy must know that, with the capacities, capabilities, and lofty ideals of the Iranian nation, we will inevitably emerge victorious. Our armed forces, supported by the people and guided by the wise leadership of the Commander-in-Chief, have always defeated aggression and will continue to do so,” Hatami said.

Comment by Riaz Haq yesterday

Pakistan ex Ambassador to US Husain Haqqani says that Trump and his isolationist MAGA base accept Pakistan-Saudi Defense Pact. They believe that anything that relieves the US of the responsibility to defend other countries is a good thing.

https://youtu.be/oncjDJn5hM8?si=7jsX849oOAgduqnX

Comment by Riaz Haq 13 hours ago

Will new regional security architectures replace us security guarantees? - Google Search

AI Overview
New regional security architectures are not entirely replacing US security guarantees but are challenging them and creating a more complex global security landscape. Driven by a perception of declining US reliability, countries in key regions are increasingly hedging their bets by diversifying their security partners and arrangements.
Key trends
Diversification beyond US influence
Nations that once depended heavily on the US are actively exploring and creating new security alliances to reduce reliance on Washington.
Middle East: A mutual defense pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, signed in September 2025, reflects a growing distrust of the US-led security architecture. For Riyadh, this pact complements, rather than replaces, its existing ties with Washington.
Indo-Pacific: Regional players like Japan, Australia, and India are deepening their defense ties, including through expanded joint exercises and intelligence sharing. South Korea is also exploring stronger connections with European powers.
Perception of fading US credibility
Reports indicate that the perceived credibility of US security commitments is eroding across different regions. This trend is fueled by a sense of US retrenchment and inconsistent foreign policy across different administrations.
In Asia, the credibility of the US nuclear umbrella is reportedly seen as eroding, encouraging countries to seek alternative security options.
In the Middle East, past US responses to regional attacks have led to partner frustrations and concerns over the inadequacy of US protection.
Emergence of alternative security frameworks
The emerging regional security architectures are often more fluid, less institutionalized, and feature overlapping and sometimes contradictory arrangements.
Competition: The development of competing security frameworks could lead to a less stable regional order, with nations hedging their bets in an uncertain environment.
Alternative models: New configurations could include bilateral accords, regional compacts, or new nuclear-sharing arrangements.
US response and implications
The rise of these architectures forces the US to adapt its strategy in an increasingly multipolar world.
Adjusting strategy: In regions like the Middle East, some argue the US should welcome certain regional defense pacts. This would allow it to focus on other strategic interests by ceding some control over the regional security architecture.
Potential for instability: While a more balanced regional security dynamic offers new opportunities for cooperation, the potential for accelerated nuclear proliferation and instability poses significant risks.
Shifting focus: The US is re-evaluating its global role, particularly its longstanding ambition of primacy. This is a move towards a world defined more by national interest and a balance of power, and less by US-led normative issues like democracy promotion.

Comment by Riaz Haq 5 hours ago

Saudi Plans for Video-Game Hub Grow With $55 Billion EA Deal

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/saudi-plans-video-game-hub-184912136...

(Prince) Mohammed (Bin Salman) , who chairs Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has already invested some $30 billion in the industry, according to market researcher Aldora. That includes building up a stake in Nintendo Co. and acquiring the publisher of the hit game .

The kingdom also constructed a sprawling city that’s home to four different gaming arenas as part of that effort.

“Their overarching strategy is to bring jobs to Saudi Arabia — that’s a generational move over the next 20 years,” said Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Securities Inc.

Electronic Arts, whose hits include the football franchise, the shooting series and the soccer game, “checks all those boxes,” Pachter said.

The Electronic Arts deal comes after the prince announced in May that he would boost investment in the US to $1 trillion in the coming years as part of a push to deepen trade ties between the kingdom and the world’s largest economy.

Comment by Riaz Haq 4 hours ago

United States President Donald Trump said on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is visiting the White House, is “very close” to agreeing on a deal to end the Gaza conflict. Addressing a press conference, Trump said this was a “big, big day”.

“The prime minister and the field marshal of Pakistan … they were with us right from the beginning. In fact, they just put out a statement that they fully believe in this pact,” Trump stated. “They back this 100 per cent.”

The US president also thanked Netanyahu for agreeing to the plan and for “trusting that if we work together, we can bring an end to the death and destruction” in the region.

Read more: https://www.dawn.com/news/1945467/

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