Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a new defence agreement on Wednesday that said an attack on either country would be treated as an attack on both. The deal, called the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, was signed in Riyadh by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was visiting the kingdom at the crown prince’s invitation.
A strong statement
The two sides took a very strong stance in the joint statement that was released by the Saudi Press Agency. “The agreement states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both,” the joint statement said. It further added that the deal shows the commitment of both countries to strengthening defence cooperation and ensuring peace and stability in the region.
Agreement signed shortly after Israeli strike in Doha
The agreement came shortly after an Israeli airstrike in Doha, the capital of Qatar, which targeted Hamas leaders. The strike was slammed by the US as a unilateral move that did not serve American or Israeli interests.
Just two days before the pact, the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) had held a rare joint session in response to Israel’s attack. Many Arab and Islamic nations strongly condemned the strike, which killed Hamas political leaders as they met to discuss a US-backed ceasefire proposal.
What did the Saudi Crown Prince and Pak PM Sharif discuss?
During their talks in Riyadh, the Saudi crown prince and Pak PM Sharif talked discussed various ways to expand their strategic partnership across multiple sectors. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues, while also discussing the importance of efforts to promote security and stability.
Saudi official says agreement ‘not in response to any specific country or event’
A senior Saudi official told Reuters that the defence pact was the result of years of discussions and was not linked to any single country or recent event.
“This agreement is a culmination of years of discussions. This is not a response to specific countries or specific events but an institutionalisation of longstanding and deep cooperation between our two countries,” a senior Saudi official told the Reuters news agency when asked about its timing.
When asked if it included Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, the official did not give a clear answer.
‘Relationship with India more robust,’ says Saudi official
The official also underlined that Saudi Arabia’s relations with India remained strong, noting that ties were at their best yet, even as India and Pakistan had fought a brief war in May.
“Our relationship with India is more robust than it has ever been. We will continue to grow this relationship and seek to contribute to regional peace whichever way we can,” the official said.
