Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Defence Agreement: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a strong defence agreement that says if one country is attacked, the other will take it as an attack on itself too. This pact has been called the “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement.” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the deal in Saudi Arabia with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during Sharif’s official visit.
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The signing took place just days after Israel carried out air strikes on Doha in Qatar, where leaders of Hamas were the target. That strike worried many Gulf countries, who for long have depended on the United States for their security. The agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia now brings in a new security setup in the region.
Who joined the pact signing?
Sharif did not travel alone for this important visit. He was joined by Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, foreign minister Ishaq Dar and defence minister Khawaja Asif. The joint statement from both sides said very clearly that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.” The statement also said the deal will help both countries work together in defence and make their security stronger against any outside attack, reported Hindustan Times.
This agreement is being seen as one of Pakistan’s most serious and important defence pacts in many years. It also gives Pakistan a more fixed role in the security matters of West Asia, something that could change the way countries like India deal with Saudi Arabia in the future.
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India’s quick reaction
India reacted quickly to this new deal. The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said the government already knew Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were thinking of such a pact. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India will “study implications of the pact” and added that the government will do whatever is needed to protect national interests and ensure security in every field.
The agreement comes right after a big emergency summit hosted by Qatar. The meeting happened because of the Israeli strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha. Almost 60 countries took part in that summit, including members of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
