KABUL: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during an official visit to Riyadh, signed a “Joint Defense” agreement with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, Pakistani officials said on Wednesday night.
According to the signed agreement and a statement from the Saudi state agency, the pact establishes a “historical partnership” between Islamabad and Riyadh based on “shared strategic interests and close defense cooperation.”
Additionally, Reuters cited an unnamed senior diplomatic official, stating that the document encompasses all aspects of military cooperation and the use of military weapons that Riyadh and Islamabad will utilize to assist each other when necessary.
A section of Saudi Arabia’s official statement noted that this agreement reflects both countries’ mutual commitment to enhancing security and achieving peace and stability in the region and the world.
It aims to develop defense cooperation and strengthen mutual deterrence against any aggression.
The strategic document indicates that any “attack or aggression” against either Saudi Arabia or Pakistan will be considered an attack against both countries.
This agreement follows previous pacts between Islamabad and Riyadh in the economic and trade sectors.