Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan on Friday emphasized that the mutual defense agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is strictly defensive and carries no implications against any other nation.
Riyadh and Islamabad signed the mutual defense pact on Sept. 17, a week after Israel conducted airstrikes on Doha that prompted stern condemnations from the Arab world. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the agreement calls for any aggression against either country to be considered aggression against both.
In his weekly press briefing, Khan said the leadership of both countries is committed to elevating bilateral relations to new heights. He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Saudi Arabia had also included official-level talks between high-level delegations.
Noting Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a unique bond of brotherhood and cooperation, the spokesperson said the Pakistani people hold deep reverence for the land of the two Holy Mosques. He recalled that the countries have maintained defense cooperation since the 1960s, adding the incumbent leadership is determined to further strengthen ties.
According to Khan, both sides also reviewed their historic and strategic relations and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest. He said the agreement reflects both nations’ commitment to boosting defense cooperation and ensuring joint security. He said the strategic accord would contribute significantly to regional peace, security, and stability.
OIC Summit
During his briefing, the spokesperson noted that an emergency Islamic summit in Doha, with participation from more than 50 Islamic countries, had deliberated on Israeli aggression resulting in civilian casualties. He said the foreign ministers of Islamic states drafted and unanimously adopted a joint communiqué, which condemned Israel’s attacks as unlawful and unprovoked.
He said Pakistan’s foreign minister condemned Israeli aggression at the meeting while appreciating Qatar’s mediation efforts. Pakistan also raised the matter at the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, calling for an urgent debate, he added.
The communiqué, he said, demanded Israel be held accountable for violations of international law, condemned atrocities against Palestinians, and reaffirmed solidarity with the Palestinian people.
To a question on a recent statement from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Washington wanting to retake control of Afghanistan’s Bagram airbase, he said the issue of the Bagram airbase was between the United States and Afghanistan.
More pacts
Separately, speaking with media in London, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar hinted that several other countries are also interested in strategic defense agreements with Pakistan. While he did not name any country, he said talks were in early stages and could take months to materialize.
Describing the defense agreement as a historic milestone, he said the government and people of Pakistan had always supported the security of Saudi Arabia, especially the protection of Haramain Sharifain. The agreement, he said, formalizes this view.