Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s defence pact was signed, officially named the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA). The signing was witnessed in Riyadh by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudi-Pakistani mutual defense pact declares that any attack on one country will be considered an attack on both.
Key Provisions of Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Defence Pact
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The Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defence pact confirms that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will jointly respond to aggression.
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The Saudi-Pakistani mutual defense pact covers deterrence, defense cooperation, and future military coordination.
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Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Army Chief, played a key role in shaping the agreement.
Strategic Importance of Pak Saudi Agreement
The Pak Saudi agreement builds on more than eight decades of defense ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Military training, advisory programs, and joint exercises that existed previously are now institutionalized under this framework.
Saudi officials noted that the Pakistan Saudi Arabia defence pact allows “all military means deemed necessary” depending on threats. However, Pakistan has not publicly confirmed whether nuclear deterrence is included in the Saudi Pakistan mutual defense pact.
Regional Context and Saudi Arabia’s Position
The Pakistan Saudi Arabia agreement was made at the time when there were increased tensions in the region especially following the past events in the Gulf. The agreement underlines Pakistan in guarding the sacred places in Saudi Arabia, but Riyadh has made it clear that its relationship with India will not be affected.
Analysts in Pakistan believe the Pak Saudi agreement strengthens Islamabad’s regional standing and formalizes a security role that was informally present for decades.
Implications of Saudi Pakistan Mutual Defense Pact
The mutual defense pact existing between the Saudi and Pakistan guarantees that Pakistan will assist Saudi Arabia in protecting its territory and sacred places, and Saudi Arabia will also assist Pakistan against the outside threats.
Implementation details such as funding, operational structures, and timelines have not been disclosed. Still, the Pakistan Saudi Arabia defence pact is expected to expand cooperation and enhance joint deterrence.
The Pakistan Saudi Arabia defence pact, also described as the Saudi Pakistan mutual defense pact, represents a structured security commitment under the Pak Saudi agreement. It reflects the long-standing defense partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, creating a formal mechanism for joint defense and future military cooperation.
