Islamabad: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that Saudi Arabia would defend Pakistan if India were to attack, following the signing of a new mutual defence agreement between the two countries. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed the deal, officially known as the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA), in Riyadh on September 17. "Any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both," according to one of its clauses. In different interviews, Asif emphasized that the pact is solely defensive and compared it to offensive alliances. In an interview with Geo TV, he declared, "We will work together to defend against any aggression, whether it is directed at Saudi Arabia or Pakistan." Is Saudi-Pakistan Defense Pact A New Challenge for India? Will Saudi Arabia join Pakistan? The minister made analogies to Article 5 of NATO, which states that an attack on one member is deemed an attack on all. “We have not named any country as the aggressor, nor has Saudi Arabia. This is simply an umbrella arrangement provided by both sides. In case of any aggression, from any country, it will be jointly addressed and defended. This is not an aggressive pact or a conventional defence arrangement.” He further told Geo News that the whole deal with Saudi Arabia is totally defensive, comparing the deal to NATO’s move. Asif also made remarks on the controversial question of nuclear capability, saying in one instance that Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent “will be made available” to Saudi Arabia under the terms of the agreement. This seeming inconsistency has drawn criticism and prompted inquiries regarding the agreement's exact definition of mutual defense. $100 billion investment plan in India in questions The decision to sign a mutual defence pact with Pakistan has sparked questions over the future of its promised $100 billion investment plan in India, a commitment first made in 2019 across energy, infrastructure, digital technology and manufacturing sectors. India monitors Saudi-Pakistan Defense Pact amid regional security concerns As per the defence agreement signed in Islamabad, any aggression against one of the two nations will be treated as aggression against both. It strengthens Riyadh’s strategic partnership with Pakistan, a longtime ally, but turns out to be a delicate moment for India-Saudi economic cooperation. India’s reaction over defence agreement However, India reacted to the signing of a mutual defence pact by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia by saying that the government will take all steps to protect the country’s national interests and ensure comprehensive national security in all domains, reflecting the concerns over the development.
