Saudi-Pakistan pledge joint response to any aggression

News Desk :

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday signed a “Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement” pledging that aggression against one country would be treated as an attack on both, a move that will enhance joint deterrence and strengthen decades of military and security cooperation.
Meanwhile, Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson RandhirJaiswal said, New Delhi will assess all the strategic and security implications of the pact, while reaffirming its commitment to national security across all fronts. The accord comes at a time of extreme volatility in the Middle East, where prolonged conflicts have heightened fears of wider instability, reinforcing the urgency Gulf states place on stronger security and defense partnerships.
The Riyadh agreement also signals a push by both governments to formalize long-standing military ties into a binding security commitment.

RandhirJaiswal further added that “we have seen reports of the signing of a strategic mutual defense 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.”

“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 pact was signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh, where he met Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace. The two leaders, joined by senior ministers and military officials, reviewed what Sharif’s office called a “historic and strategic” relationship between the two nations and discussed regional developments.
“The agreement states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both,” the joint statement said.
It described the accord as a reflection of the two governments’ shared commitment to strengthening defense cooperation and “achieving security and peace in the region and the world.”
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have for decades maintained close political, military and economic ties. The Kingdom hosts more than 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates – the largest overseas community sending remittances back home – and has repeatedly provided Islamabad with financial support during economic crises. Defense cooperation has included training, arms purchases and joint military exercises.
The new agreement formalizes that cooperation into a mutual defense commitment, a step that analysts widely say places the relationship on par with other strategic partnerships in the region.
While the statement did not detail implementation mechanisms, it stressed the accord was aimed at “developing aspects of defense cooperation between the two countries and strengthening joint deterrence against any aggression.”
The visit also comes as Pakistan looks to bolster ties with Gulf states amid ongoing economic challenges at home.