Islamabad:
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a “strategic mutual defense agreement” on Wednesday, declaring that “any aggression against one or the other country is considered an assault against the two” “, according to a joint Pak-Saudi declaration.
The pact was signed during the visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Riyadh at the invitation of the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
“Building on the Historic Partnership Extending for Nearly Eight Decades Between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and Based on the Bonds of Brotherhood and Islamic Solidarity, as well as shared strategic interests and close defense cooperation between, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister and His Excellency Mr. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan signed “the strategic mutual defense agreement”, said the statement.
He added that the agreement “reflects the common commitment of the two nations to improve their security and obtain security and peace in the region and in the world, aims to develop aspects of defense cooperation between the two countries and to strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression”.
The agreement stipulates that any aggression against one or the other country will be considered an assault against both. “”
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have a long -standing strategic and defense cooperation, but the last pact is considered significant in the context of recent developments, including Israeli Qatar strikes.
A Saudi official, however, told Reuters that the agreement was not supposed to respond to a specific event rather reflected long -standing strategic cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh.
The agreement marks an important step in bilateral links, which have long been based on close defense and security cooperation. For decades, Pakistani military coaches served in the kingdom, while Riyad has extended generous financial support to Islamabad in the event of an economic crisis.
The time of agreement is notable, at a time when the two parties face continuous security challenges.
The Prime Minister’s visit, associated with the signing of the pact, underlines Islamabad’s efforts to cement the links with the kingdom at political and security levels, even though the two countries continue to explore enlarged economic cooperation.
Earlier, the Prime Minister was escorted by the Air Force Saudite jets when his plane entered Saudi airspace, in a rare gesture.
Later, the Saudi crown prince received Prime Minister Shehbaz, accompanied by the Marshal Syed Asim Munnir, at the Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, where the two parties held an official series of talks in the presence of their respective delegations.
“At the start of the session, His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, transmitted his greetings and his warm wishes to the goalkeeper of the two holy mosques the King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud,” said the joint declaration.
“The two parties have examined the historical and strategic relationships between the two countries and a certain number of subjects of common interest,” he added.
The Pakistani Prime Minister “expressed his sincere gratitude and his appreciation to his Royal Highness, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister, for the warm welcome and the generous hospitality extended to him and his delegation which accompanies him.”
Shehbaz “also explained his best wishes for the continuous well-being of the guardian of the two holy mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and his royal Allongité, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister and Progress and Prosperity, for the Brother People of the Kingdom of Arabia”.
In turn, the Saudi Crown Prince “expressed his warm wishes for good health and well-being of His Excellency the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and for other progress and prosperity for the fraternal people of Pakistan”.
