Bahraini-Pakistani relations: a partnership entering its third generation
The official visit of His Excellency President Asif Ali Zardari, President of the friendly Islamic Republic of Pakistan, to the Kingdom of Bahrain on January 15, 2026, marks a new milestone in the historic relations that have united Manama and Islamabad for more than half a century. The warm welcome extended to His Excellency President Zardari by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, at the Qudaibiya Palace – the extent to which these ties have grown in strength and reliability, based on a shared diplomatic heritage that began officially in 1971.
The gracious gesture of His Majesty the King awarding the Order of Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, First Class, to the Pakistani President carries political significance that goes beyond the dimensions of honor; it is an expression of the King’s high appreciation for Pakistan’s honorable positions on issues concerning the Arab and Islamic nations. For his part, the Pakistani president described this relationship as a “third-generation relationship,” clearly emphasizing that this partnership is not a recent development, but rather a covenant of trust that has been passed down through generations, achieving unique continuity in understanding and strategic coordination.
In terms of military cooperation, defense relations stand out as a solid pillar of regional security, with this coordination reflected in the 2018 defense cooperation agreement between the two countries and joint military exercises such as the “Badr” exercise. This security integration reflects a deep understanding among the two countries of common challenges and a belief in the need to increase combat readiness and exchange training experiences to meet contemporary security challenges, thereby ensuring the stability of waterways and global trade flows.
On the economic front, the numbers show a big shift toward a “development partnership.” Bilateral trade has jumped to over $1.5 billion since 2020, with direct investment flows from Pakistan growing by over 70%. This economic momentum is now supported by more than 9,400 companies with Pakistani partners, making the private sector a vital driver of the shared economic success story between the two countries.
The impact of this relationship extends to the humanitarian and institutional dimensions, with the Pakistani community actively contributing to the Kingdom’s development process, in parallel with the leading role played by long-established Pakistani financial institutions that have been operating in Manama for more than five decades. The contributions of Habib Bank Limited and United Bank Limited to the Bahraini banking sector have been an integral part of the Kingdom’s journey towards building a diversified economy, in which non-oil sectors now account for more than 85% of GDP, demonstrating the complementary roles of the two friendly countries.
In conclusion, this visit, with its political and economic implications, opens up broader horizons for comprehensive strategic cooperation, in line with the objectives of Bahrain Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s aspirations for renaissance and development, as a common path that goes beyond immediate interests to build long-term partnerships. In this context, the visit represents a fundamental step in recalibrating the compass of joint action, ensuring the building of strong Asian-Gulf alliances based on mutual interests, and making Manama and Islamabad a model for balanced international cooperation.
Note: This article has been automatically translated, the full article is available in Arabic.
Tasneem Abdulla Ebrahim, Research associate
