ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has clarified that its landmark strategic mutual defence agreement (SMDA) with Saudi Arabia is “purely defensive in nature” and not directed against any third country.
The pact would not only strengthen bilateral defence cooperation but also contribute to regional peace, security and stability, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said at a weekly news briefing on Friday.
He said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia “enjoy a long and distinguished history of brotherhood and cooperation”, with bilateral relations described as “unique, enduring, and multifaceted”. The leadership of both countries, he added, shares a vision to elevate the relationship to new heights.
“Since the 1960s, defence cooperation has served as one of the principal pillars of Pakistan-Saudi Arabia all-encompassing bilateral relations. The strategic mutual defence agreement formalises this decades-old and robust defence partnership,” Khan said while responding to questions.
The spokesperson further stated that the relationship between the two nations “lives in the hearts of the people”. Pakistanis, he added, hold special sentiments for Saudi Arabia as the land of Makkah and Medina and respect the royal family for being the custodian of the holy sites.
The official statement jointly issued by the two countries is self-explanatory, he said, adding that “any misplaced attribution or speculation of hypothetical scenarios is unwarranted”.
Islamabad and Riyadh on Wednesday signed the historic SMDA, declaring that attack on either country would be considered against both. The pact was signed between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman during a day-long visit to the Saudi capital.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have longstanding strategic and defense cooperation but the SMDA is seen as significant against the backdrop of recent developments, including Israeli strikes on Qatar.
A Saudi official, however, told Reuters that the agreement was not meant to respond to any specific event rather reflected the longstanding strategic cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh.
The agreement marks a significant milestone in bilateral ties, which have long rested on close defense and security cooperation. For decades, Pakistani military trainers have served in the oil-rich kingdom, while Riyadh has extended generous financial support to Islamabad in times of economic crises.
The prime minister’s visit, coupled with the signing of the pact, underlines Islamabad’s efforts to cement ties with the kingdom at both political and security levels, even as both countries continue to explore expanded economic cooperation.
Meanwhile, responding to another question, the spokesperson said the issue of the Bagram airbase was between the United States and Afghanistan. He was speaking in the context of a statement from President Donald Trump who said on Thursday that he would take back the control of Bagram military base.
