Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday asserted that Saudi Arabia will support Pakistan in case of any future aggression, describing the recent Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement as a defensive arrangement, not an aggressive move.
“Ji bilkul, isme koi shak nahi hai (sure, no doubt in it),” Asif told Geo News, while clarifying that neither Pakistan nor Saudi Arabia named any country as an aggressor. “This is simply an umbrella arrangement provided by both sides. In case of any aggression, from any country, it will be jointly addressed and defended.”
The remarks come amid longstanding India-Pakistan tensions, with the agreement formalizing years of military cooperation, including Pakistani training of Saudi forces. Asif also confirmed that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal would be available to Saudi Arabia under the pact.
The agreement was signed on September 17 during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh. A joint statement read: “Any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”
Following the announcement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted the pact is under review. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “India and Saudi Arabia have a wide-ranging strategic partnership which has deepened considerably in the last several years. We expect that this strategic partnership will keep in mind mutual interests and sensitivities.”
