ISLAMABAD / RIYADH — Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a mutual defence agreement declaring that any aggression against either country will be treated as an aggression against both.
The accord — described as the “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” — was formalized during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh and signed in the presence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It covers enhanced defence cooperation, joint deterrence measures, and mechanisms for consultation in the event of security threats.
A joint statement issued after the signing said the agreement “reflects the shared commitment of both nations to enhance their security and to achieving peace in the region and the world.”
Regional observers say the pact strengthens long-standing ties between the two countries and signals a united stance amid rising tensions in the Middle East. The agreement also formalises security cooperation that has historically existed in practice but not on paper.
