Saudi Arabia’s security now Pakistan’s formal responsibility: Dar

LONDON/ ISLAMABAD  –  Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday hinted that some countries were showing interest in building strategic defence agreements with Pakistan, following the country’s landmark pact with Saudi Arabia.

“It is premature to say something, but after this development, other countries have also expressed a de­sire for similar arrangements,” he said. “But such things follow a due process. Even with Saudi Arabia, it took several months to finalise.”

Speaking to reporters in London, Ishaq Dar termed the defence agree­ment with Saudi Arabia a historic milestone, saying that there had al­ways been informal beliefs among the government and the people of Pakistan regarding the security of Saudi Arabia especially the protec­tion of Harmain Sharifain but this has become formal now after signing of the pact. Dar also noted that both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are satis­fied and happy with the agreement, adding that the Kingdom had consis­tently stood by Pakistan during diffi­cult times. “Saudi Arabia played key role in supporting Pakistan following the international crisis and during the recent economic crisis,” he added.

Also, Foreign Office Spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan, on Fri­day said Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement during Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh, reflecting the two nations’ shared commitment to regional security, peace, and strengthened defence co­operation. The Spokesperson, in his weekly media briefing, said that the agreement was signed following official talks between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Ara­bia, Muhammad bin Salman bin Ab­dulaziz Al Saud, on September 17.

“Both leaders reaffirmed the histor­ic and strategic partnership that has spanned nearly eight decades, rooted in Islamic solidarity, shared values, and close defense cooperation,” the spokes­person stated. He added that under the agreement, any aggression against ei­ther country will be considered as ag­gression against both, thus under­scoring the depth of mutual trust and commitment to joint deterrence.

According to Ambassador Khan, Prime Minister Sharif expressed profound grat­itude for the Kingdom’s warm welcome and generous hospitality, and conveyed best wishes for the continued well-be­ing of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, as well as the progress and pros­perity of the Saudi people. The Crown Prince, in turn, extended warm wish­es for Pakistan’s peace and develop­ment. The spokesperson noted that the Prime Minister’s visit also came against the backdrop of the Emergency Arab-Is­lamic Summit held in Doha on Septem­ber 15, convened after Israel’s airstrikes on Qatar. Prime Minister Sharif led Paki­stan’s delegation at the summit, joined by the Deputy Prime Minister and For­eign Minister, the Defense Minister, the Information Minister, and senior offi­cials including Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.

Ambassador Khan said the Prime Minister, in his address to the summit, strongly condemned Israeli aggression and reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unflinching commitment to the Palestinian cause and solidarity with Qatar and other Muslim states facing unlawful hostili­ties.” He highlighted Pakistan’s call at the UN Human Rights Council for an ur­gent debate on Israel’s actions, and em­phasized the need for Islamic unity to confront “growing Israeli adventurism.”

The joint communiqué adopted at the summit, he added, demonstrated “the collective resolve of over 50 Arab and Islamic states to hold Israel account­able for its repeated violations of inter­national law and human rights.”

On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Sharif held bilateral meetings with the Amir of Qatar, the Saudi Crown Prince, the King of Jordan, and the Pres­idents of Egypt and Iran, furthering Pa­kistan’s diplomatic outreach.

The spokesperson also briefed on parallel diplomatic engagements, in­cluding the President of Pakistan’s on­going visit to China, where agreements were signed on agriculture, vocation­al training, and environmental cooper­ation, as well as recent telephone ex­changes of the Deputy Prime Minister with his counterparts in Egypt, Germa­ny, and the United States.

Ambassador Khan concluded by re­affirming Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its historic partnerships with Saudi Arabia, China, and other al­lies, while maintaining principled sup­port for peace, sovereignty, and the rights of oppressed peoples, particular­ly in Palestine and Kashmir.