Pakistan-Saudi Defence Pact Not Linked to Israel-Qatar Conflict: Khawaja Asif

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has clarified that the recently signed Pakistan-Saudi strategic defence agreement is not a response to the recent Israeli attack on Qatar. Instead, it is the culmination of long-standing discussions aimed at formalizing the historically close military ties between the two nations.

In an interview aired on the Zetiv platform with journalist Mehdi Hasan, Asif said, “What happened in Qatar is not the reason behind this agreement. Talks had been ongoing for a long time, although the recent developments may have expedited the process slightly.”

On September 17, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in Riyadh. The pact includes a clause that any attack on one country would be considered an attack on both, underlining a joint commitment to regional security.

Read more: Pakistan-Saudi defense deal may extend to other Gulf states: Asif

Addressing questions about nuclear weapons, Asif categorically stated that nuclear cooperation is not part of the agreement. He dismissed suggestions of Pakistan providing nuclear protection to Saudi Arabia, calling them speculative and “sensationalized.”

“We are very responsible people,” Asif said, denying claims made in journalist Bob Woodward’s 2024 book ‘War’ that the Saudi Crown Prince had expressed interest in purchasing a bomb from Pakistan.

Asif described the agreement as a formalization of a relationship that has existed for decades. “Our military presence in Saudi Arabia has ranged between 4,000 to 5,000 troops in the past and continues even today. This pact gives a structured framework to that relationship, which was earlier based on transactional arrangements,” he said.

When pressed again on whether nuclear weapons are part of this “structured framework,” Asif declined to comment on specifics, stating that “defence agreements are not usually discussed publicly in detail.”

Strategic Alignment with China

During the interview, Asif also touched upon Pakistan’s foreign policy positioning between the United States and China. He emphasized that Pakistan’s strategic future lies with China, citing decades of trust and deepening defence cooperation.

“China has been a very reliable ally since the late 1950s. A significant portion of our defence equipment comes from China. Our strategic cooperation is stronger now than ever before,” he noted.

When asked whether Pakistan can maintain close ties with both the U.S. and China given their growing rivalry, Asif replied firmly: “We share geography and borders with China. They have been dependable allies. So yes, our strategic future is with China.”