Pakistan on Thursday backed Saudi Arabia’s airstrikes in Iraq as an exercise of its right to self-defense, reaffirming Islamabad will honor all defense commitments with its Gulf partners.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, and we respect that right,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi at his weekly press briefing while referring to coordinated U.S.-Saudi Arabia strikes against installations of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units.
“The developments in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea are worrying. The attacks, particularly by non-state actors against Saudi Arabia, are utterly condemnable,” he added.
To a question on whether the defense agreement with Kuwait was similar to the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia, Andrabi replied in the negative. “Obviously, it is not similar in a sense that one is called the strategic mutual defense, and the other defense cooperation agreement. So, the name is self-explanatory,” he said, hinting Pakistan’s defense ties with Bahrain and Jordan could evolve further.
“As regards Jordan and Bahrain, we have robust defense cooperation with these countries. If tomorrow there is a need to formalize it in a new agreement of defense cooperation, you will be informed about it in due course,” he said. “We will implement all our defense cooperation agreements, not just with Saudi Arabia, but with all our Gulf partners. We will fulfil all our obligations,” he said, stressing this did not conflict with Islamabad’s ongoing diplomatic engagement to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran.
“Amid the prevailing tensions and hostilities, Pakistan reiterates that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path forward,” he said, adding Islamabad was actively engaged with regional and international stakeholders to encourage both sides to return to the framework established under the Islamabad MoU. “Pakistan is engaged and will continue to play its role. The negotiations are ongoing to normalize the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and de-escalate. We are doing our utmost to bring both parties back to Islamabad MoU so that all irritants can be removed in the light of its spirit. We are hopeful for de-escalation and peaceful settlement of the issue,” he said.
During his briefing, the spokesperson also said India will be invited to the SCO Heads of State Summit, set to take place in Pakistan next year, saying this was an obligation of the host country under the bloc’s established procedures.
He also confirmed that Pakistan and India had recently exchanged assignment visas for diplomatic personnel posted to their respective high commissions. “This was an administrative arrangement to facilitate the routine posting and transfer of officers from capitals to the high commissions,” he said.