‘Did not rule out rest entry of the Arab nations in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s defence pact’, says Islamabad’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. He said that the “doors are not closed” for such developments, adding that it is not an “aggressive pact” but a defensive arrangement, similar to that of NATO. Both countries signed a defence agreement this week, as per which “any attack on either country will be considered an aggression against both".
“I cannot prematurely answer this, but I will definitely say the doors are not closed,” said Asif on being asked whether more Arab nations could become part of the deal. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the agreement, days after Israel’s attack on the Hamas leadership in Qatar, a key US ally in the Gulf region.
“We don’t have any plans to conquer territory or attack anyone. But our fundamental right can’t be denied to us, and we exercised that yesterday.”
The Pakistani defence minister then was asked if his country’s nuclear assets would also fall under the agreement, to which Asif replied, “What we have, our capabilities, will absolutely be available under this pact.” He then added that Pakistan had never committed any nuclear violation.
“I think it is a fundamental right of the countries and people here, particularly the Muslim population, to together defend their region, countries, and nations. If there is aggression, whether against Saudi Arabia or Pakistan, we will jointly defend against it. I think that (pre-existing) relationship has been more defined now and that understanding has been given the form of a defence agreement,” Asif said.
Pakistani troops (military and air force contingent) are already in Saudi Arabia for the past many decades, said the defence minister.
‘No ground or justification’ for any other third party to be involved in this development, said Asif on being asked if the United States was aware/taken into confidence before signing the pact.
“We were swept into two wars in Afghanistan. The US, on both occasions, left the region and we are still dealing with the consequences, be it the Taliban, the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan), the BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army) or anyone else,” Asif said, adding, “The Kabul government is not innocent in this, I am being categorical. Through these people, we are being blackmailed by them."
When asked if Arab states would act in response to Afghan aggression, Asif said he would not be against it.
Meanwhile, India said that before making any comment on the deal, it will first study the implications of the move for its national security as well as for regional and global stability.
Cooperation between the two states dates back to 1967 and deepened after the 1979 Grand Mosque seizure, when Pakistani special forces helped Saudi troops reclaim Masjid al-Haram. In 1982, the two sides institutionalised security ties through a Bilateral Security Cooperation Agreement that enabled Pakistani training, advisory support, and deployments on Saudi soil. At times, as many as 20,000 Pakistani troops were stationed in the kingdom, and Saudi Arabia became a key purchaser of Pakistani-made arms.
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