SAUDI Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan have signed a formal mutual defence pact, state media from both countries said, in a move that significantly strengthens a decades-long security partnership.
“This agreement, which reflects the shared commitment of both nations to enhance their security and to achieving security and peace in the region and the world, aims to develop aspects of defense cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression.
The agreement states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both,” a joint statement published on Wednesday said, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The defence pact was based on the “historic partnership” between the two countries, the statement said, and “shared strategic interests and close defence cooperation”.
During their meeting in Riyadh on Wednesday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “discussed ways to enhance the strategic partnership between the two brotherly countries across various fields”, SPA said.
“They also exchanged views on regional and international developments, issues of common interest, and the efforts aimed at achieving security and stability.”
Sharif is currently on a state visit to Saudi Arabia.
“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.
“This is a comprehensive defensive agreement that encompasses all military means,” the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said when asked whether the mutual defence pact included the use of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons if necessary.
The agreement between the two nations comes two days after an extraordinary joint session between the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was called, in the wake of Israel’s attack on the Qatari capital Doha on September 9.
Arab and Islamic nations widely condemned Israel’s attack, which targeted members of Hamas’s political leadership as they gathered to discuss a US-backed ceasefire proposal.
The senior Saudi official did emphasise that his country’s relationship with nuclear-armed India remained strong. India and Pakistan 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.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have enjoyed close trade and military ties going back decades.
Since 1967, Pakistan has trained more than 8,200 Saudi armed forces personnel, and the two sides have also held several joint military exercises.