Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a ‘Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement’, pledging mutual support in case of any external aggression, seen as a significant step towards formalising decades of security cooperation between the two Islamic nations .
The agreement was inked during Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh and was announced through a joint statement issued after his talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to the new agency Reuters.
“This agreement, which reflects the shared commitment of both nations to enhance their security and to achieve 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 joint statement said.
The pact states that any attack on either country will be treated as an attack on both, highlighting a shift from informal security ties to an institutionalised military framework.
Describing the deal as the culmination of “years of discussions,” a senior Saudi official told Reuters that it was not a reaction to any recent conflict or country. “This is a comprehensive defensive agreement that encompasses all military means,” the official said, while declining to specify if it includes Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
The agreement comes days after an extraordinary joint session of the Arab League and organisation of Islamic cooperation (OIC), convened following Israel’s strike on Doha on September 9, which targeted senior Hamas leaders. However, the Saudi official underlined that the pact was not directly linked to the incident.
Both leaders also “discussed ways to enhance the strategic partnership between the two brotherly countries across various fields” and exchanged views on regional and global issues, AlJazeera reported.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a long history of military cooperation. Since 1967, Islamabad has trained over 8,200 Saudi military personnel, and the two nations have conducted multiple joint exercises.
India Reacts
Reacting to the development, India said it had been aware that such a pact was under discussion between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement, “we have seen reports of the signing of a strategic mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The government was aware that this development, which formalizes a long-standing arrangement between the two countries, had been under consideration.”
He further added that New Delhi will assess all the strategic and security implications of the pact, while reaffirming its commitment to national security across all fronts.
“We will study the implications of this development for our national security as well as for regional and global stability. The government remains committed to protecting India's national interests and ensuring comprehensive national security in all domains.”
Despite the defence alignment with Pakistan, a senior Saudi official reaffirmed Riyadh’s growing ties with New Delhi. Notably, India and Pakistan were involved in a brief conflict earlier in May.
“Our relationship with India is more robust than it has ever been. We will continue to grow this relationship,” he said.
The agreement was inked during Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh and was announced through a joint statement issued after his talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to the new agency Reuters.
“This agreement, which reflects the shared commitment of both nations to enhance their security and to achieve 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 joint statement said.
The pact states that any attack on either country will be treated as an attack on both, highlighting a shift from informal security ties to an institutionalised military framework.
Describing the deal as the culmination of “years of discussions,” a senior Saudi official told Reuters that it was not a reaction to any recent conflict or country. “This is a comprehensive defensive agreement that encompasses all military means,” the official said, while declining to specify if it includes Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
The agreement comes days after an extraordinary joint session of the Arab League and organisation of Islamic cooperation (OIC), convened following Israel’s strike on Doha on September 9, which targeted senior Hamas leaders. However, the Saudi official underlined that the pact was not directly linked to the incident.
Both leaders also “discussed ways to enhance the strategic partnership between the two brotherly countries across various fields” and exchanged views on regional and global issues, AlJazeera reported.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a long history of military cooperation. Since 1967, Islamabad has trained over 8,200 Saudi military personnel, and the two nations have conducted multiple joint exercises.
India Reacts
Reacting to the development, India said it had been aware that such a pact was under discussion between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement, “we have seen reports of the signing of a strategic mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The government was aware that this development, which formalizes a long-standing arrangement between the two countries, had been under consideration.”
He further added that New Delhi will assess all the strategic and security implications of the pact, while reaffirming its commitment to national security across all fronts.
“We will study the implications of this development for our national security as well as for regional and global stability. The government remains committed to protecting India's national interests and ensuring comprehensive national security in all domains.”
Despite the defence alignment with Pakistan, a senior Saudi official reaffirmed Riyadh’s growing ties with New Delhi. Notably, India and Pakistan were involved in a brief conflict earlier in May.
“Our relationship with India is more robust than it has ever been. We will continue to grow this relationship,” he said.
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