Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that a new defence pact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has “formalised” a relationship that was previously “a bit transactional.” The agreement, signed earlier this month, pledges that an attack on either nation will be considered an act of aggression against both.
The minister made the remarks in an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, clarifying the nature of the strategic accord. While the timing of the pact follows recent regional conflicts, including an Israel-Qatar clash and a deadly India-Pakistan confrontation, Asif insisted the agreement was not a direct reaction to these events. “It was already in the offing,” he said, though acknowledging recent tensions may have “sped it up a bit.”
When pressed on whether the pact extends Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent to Saudi Arabia, Asif was evasive. He refrained from discussing specifics, stating that “defence pacts are normally not discussed publicly.” The minister also dismissed a reported claim from a recent book that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman believed he could “just buy” a nuclear weapon from Pakistan, calling the idea “sensationalised” and affirming that Pakistan are “very responsible people.”
In a separate part of the interview, Asif addressed Pakistan’s international alignments. When questioned about whether closer ties with the United States could jeopardise its vital relationship with China, the minister was unequivocal. He described the partnership with China as “time-tested” and “reliable,” noting that a major portion of Pakistan’s arms come from China.
“Asi stated that China’s reliability, coupled with shared borders and geography, means Pakistan’s strategic future lies with its northeastern neighbour, not the US. “Yeah […] they are reliable and they are our neighbours,” he said.
