GG News Bureau
Islamabad, 20th Sept: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed on Friday that Saudi Arabia would come to Pakistan’s aid in the event of an Indian military attack, citing the “strategic mutual assistance” clause in the recently signed defence pact between the two nations.
“Yes, absolutely. There is no doubt about it,” Asif told Geo TV, drawing parallels with NATO’s Article 5, which commits members to collective defence. He clarified, however, that the agreement is strictly defensive in nature. “If there is aggression, whether against Saudi Arabia or Pakistan, we will jointly defend against it,” he said, stressing that the pact is not intended for offensive operations.
Asif also confirmed that Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities would be available under the agreement. While Pakistan’s official doctrine limits nuclear use to India, he stated, “Our capabilities will absolutely be available under this pact,” adding that Pakistan has always permitted inspections of its nuclear facilities and never breached international obligations.
A senior Saudi official described the pact as a “comprehensive defensive agreement that encompasses all military means,” without explicitly confirming a nuclear component. The mutual defence deal, signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh this week, stipulates that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”
The Indian government responded by calling the pact a formalisation of a long-standing arrangement and said its implications are under review. Analysts suggest the agreement effectively combines Saudi financial backing with Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, strengthening both nations’ strategic positions.
For Pakistan, the pact offers substantial financial support and the potential for a broader Arab alliance. For Saudi Arabia, it provides a de facto nuclear deterrent, a development likely to draw attention from Israel and Iran. When asked about expanding the agreement into a wider Arab alliance, Asif said, “The doors are not closed… it is a fundamental right of countries, particularly the Muslim population, to defend their region together.”
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