Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a 'Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement', in which both countries committed to mutual assistance in the event of any external attack, which is viewed as a big step towards making formal decades-old security cooperation between the two Islamic states.
The agreement was signed on the occasion of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's state visit to Riyadh and was announced in a joint statement released after his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the new agency Reuters reported.
“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.
Calling the agreement the culmination of "years of negotiations," one of Saudi Arabia's top officials explained to Reuters that it was not an inducement to any recent war or nation. "This is an all-encompassing defense agreement that covers all military means," the official explained, refusing to answer whether it includes Pakistan's nuclear capability.
The deal follows just days after an unprecedented combined session of the Arab League and organisation of Islamic cooperation (OIC) was held, summoned in response to Israel's raid on Doha on September 9, in which it attacked top Hamas officials. But the Saudi official emphasized that the deal was not necessarily a response to the event.
The two leaders also "reviewed ways to expand the strategic cooperation between the two brotherly nations in all fields" and discussed regional and international issues, AlJazeera reported.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have a long history of cooperation in the military realm. Islamabad has trained more than 8,200 Saudi military personnel since 1967, and the two countries have held a number of joint exercises.
Responding to the move, India stated that it knew that such an agreement was being negotiated between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
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 added further that New Delhi will examine all the strategic and security implications of the agreement, while reiterating its dedication to national security on 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.”
In spite of the alignment of defence with Pakistan, a top Saudi official reaffirmed Riyadh's increasing relations with New Delhi. Interestingly, India and Pakistan had engaged in a short war in early May.
“Our relationship with India is more robust than it has ever been. We will continue to grow this relationship,” he said.
Read also| Trump designates ‘Antifa’ a ‘major terrorist organisation’ days after Charlie Kirk murder
Read also| Ex-US NSA Praises India as 'Proud and Strong,' Slams Trump’s Policy Towards New Delhi
