Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday signed a defence pact stipulating that any aggression against one will be treated as aggression against both, media reports said.
The ‘Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement’ was concluded during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh, where he was received by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace, Geo News reported.
According to Dawn, the Prime Minister’s Office announced the signing of the pact, noting that any aggression against either country would be treated as aggression against both.
A joint statement released after the ceremony said, “Building on a partnership spanning nearly eight decades, and rooted in bonds of brotherhood, Islamic solidarity, and shared strategic interests, the two sides signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement.”
The pact reflects a joint commitment to boost bilateral security ties and contribute to regional and global peace, the statement added. It aims to deepen defence cooperation and strengthen joint deterrence against external threats.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was received in Riyadh by Deputy Governor Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz. He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Environment Minister Musadik Malik, and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.
The Foreign Office had earlier described Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s relationship as historic, rooted in shared faith, values, and mutual trust. It said the visit would provide an opportunity for both leaders to consolidate this partnership and explore new avenues of collaboration for the benefit of their peoples.
This marked Sharif’s third visit to the Gulf in a week. He had earlier travelled to Qatar twice — on Thursday and Monday — to express solidarity with Doha following Israel’s attack on Hamas leadership in the Gulf state and to attend an emergency meeting of Arab-Islamic nations on the crisis. (Agencies)
