Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has suggested that Saudi Arabia could back Islamabad in the event of a war with India, under a newly signed Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between the two countries.
In an interview with Geo TV, Asif was asked whether Riyadh would intervene if conflict broke out between India and Pakistan. Without naming India directly, he responded: “Yes absolutely. There’s no doubt about it… it is just an umbrella from both sides that aggression from anywhere will be defended and answered to jointly.”
Asif also clarified that the treaty is not meant as an “aggressive pact” but rather a defensive arrangement.
Confusion Over Nuclear Cooperation
The minister raised eyebrows with conflicting remarks on whether Pakistan’s nuclear capability could be shared with Saudi Arabia.
In his Geo TV interview, he initially said: “What we have, and the capabilities we possess, will be made available to (Saudi Arabia) according to this agreement.”
But later, speaking to Reuters, Asif dismissed the nuclear angle, stressing that weapons were “not on the radar” of the pact. He added that the agreement could even be extended to other Gulf nations, while clarifying: “We have no intention of using this pact for any aggression. But if the parties are threatened, then obviously this arrangement will become operative.”
What the Pact Means
The Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement was signed earlier this week during Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
According to the joint statement: “Any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”
The deal is being seen as one of Pakistan’s most significant defence agreements in decades, cementing Islamabad’s role in West Asia’s evolving security landscape, even as India strengthens its own ties with Riyadh.
India’s Response
Reacting to the pact, the Indian government said on Thursday it would take all steps necessary to protect national interests and ensure comprehensive national security. The statement reflects New Delhi’s concerns over the possible military and strategic implications of the Saudi-Pakistan alliance.
Sharif was accompanied on the visit by Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, underlining the importance Islamabad attaches to the agreement.
