Pakistan Says It Will Defend Saudi Arabia “Like Its Own Soil,” Defence Minister Says
ISLAMABAD / RIYADH — Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Friday that under the newly signed Pakistan–Saudi Arabia defence agreement Islamabad would “protect Saudi Arabia as it would its own territory” if Riyadh came under threat. He described the pact as a collective-defence arrangement and said the door remains open for other Arab states…
ISLAMABAD / RIYADH — Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Friday that under the newly signed Pakistan–Saudi Arabia defence agreement Islamabad would “protect Saudi Arabia as it would its own territory” if Riyadh came under threat. He described the pact as a collective-defence arrangement and said the door remains open for other Arab states to join.
Asif framed the deal as a defensive, NATO-style understanding intended to deter aggression rather than to pursue offensive aims. He told reporters the pact reinforces decades of military cooperation between the two countries and will include technical cooperation, joint ventures and military assistance where needed.
The minister’s comments come days after Islamabad and Riyadh signed a “strategic mutual-defence” agreement under which an attack on one country would be considered an attack on the other. Pakistani officials have emphasized the pact’s deterrent purpose amid rising regional tensions.
Regional reaction and stakes
Analysts warn the pact could shift strategic calculations across South Asia and the Gulf, complicating ties with neighbours and external powers. Islamabad says the agreement is defensive and rooted in long-standing ties; critics say it may raise concerns in capitals such as New Delhi and Washington.
What to watch next: whether the pact leads to formal invitations for other Arab states to join, any announcements on concrete military cooperation or deployments, and diplomatic responses from India, Israel and Western capitals.