The talks are still at a preliminary stage and could be affected by the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, the sources said.
The discussions come as concerns grow in Islamabad that Pakistan s mutual defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, signed last year, could draw the country into the escalating US-Iran conflict.
Following an attack by Yemen s Iran-aligned Houthi movement on Saudi Arabia earlier this week, Pakistan reportedly informed Iran that any attack on the kingdom would be treated as an attack on Pakistan.
A broader defence agreement with Kuwait, which has also faced Iranian attacks this year, could raise further questions about Pakistan s future role as a mediator between Washington and Tehran.
Pakistan and Kuwait have maintained a limited defence cooperation agreement since 2023, focusing on military training and joint exercises.
According to a Pakistani government official, Kuwait is now seeking a more comprehensive arrangement similar to Pakistan s defence pact with Saudi Arabia. The proposal reportedly includes the deployment of Pakistani troops, fighter aircraft, drones, air defence systems and other military support.
However, Pakistani officials indicated that Islamabad is not currently considering the deployment of combat troops.
"Kuwait s wish list includes everything," a Pakistani security official said. "But we are not and cannot consider deploying combat troops at this stage."
A Middle Eastern source confirmed that discussions between the two countries include defence procurement but said it remained unclear whether they would result in a formal mutual defence pact.
Pakistan s military media wing and Kuwait s Ministry of Information did not respond to requests for comment.
The discussions reflect a broader shift in regional security arrangements as Gulf countries explore defence partnerships beyond the United States.
Pakistan s sizeable military, growing domestic defence industry and production of fighter aircraft have made it an attractive security partner for several Gulf states seeking to diversify their defence relationships.
A Middle Eastern source familiar with Kuwait s security planning said Pakistan was viewed as a reliable partner due to its longstanding military ties with Saudi Arabia, close relations with the United States and shared religious and strategic interests.
According to the sources, Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are also working on a draft multilateral defence agreement, while Bahrain has shown interest in a similar arrangement. Jordan is reportedly exploring cooperation with Pakistan on weapons procurement and military training.
For Pakistan, defence partnerships are increasingly linked to economic objectives.
As part of the discussions with Kuwait, Islamabad is seeking cooperation on energy security, including strengthening strategic oil reserves.
One Pakistani source said Kuwait is considering establishing bonded fuel storage facilities in Pakistan, building on the existing government-to-government diesel supply arrangement between the two countries.
Two sources said such energy cooperation could make a broader defence partnership more attractive for Pakistan, with negotiations expected to gain momentum once tensions between the United States and Iran ease.
Analysts, however, cautioned against overextending Pakistan s commitments.
"Pakistan has to be cognizant of the dangers of over-commitment," said Muhammad Faisal, a South Asia researcher at the University of Technology Sydney.
