Rabat – Pakistan and Saudi Arabia continue to appear satisfied following their recent defense pact, which pledges joint defense against a potential external threat.
According to reports, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that his country’s nuclear capabilities will be available under the agreement. He emphasized, however, that it is aimed at ensuring joint security rather than being offensive.
On Wednesday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the agreement in Riyadh.
International media, including CNN, see the new agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as a sign that Gulf Arab states are losing confidence in the US, their longstanding ally.
This comes as the US continues to back Israel, which has been expanding its war crimes and committing genocide and attacks across the Middle East, including in Qatar.
A senior Saudi official told Reuters that the agreement between Saudi Arabia is a culmination of “years of discussion.”
The source denied that the agreement is a response to “specific countries or specific events,” citing an “institutionalization of longstanding and deep cooperation” between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Asif, however, suggested that the act is purely defensive. Calling the agreement an “umbrella” pact. He said that “if either country is attacked, we will respond.”
“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,” said a joint statement following the signing.
It added that “any aggression” against either country will be an aggression against both
The defense minister said that the agreement is not targeted toward any specific country or actor, “but whoever commits aggression will face a united response.”
