Saudi Arabia commits to support Pakistan in the event of military aggression

He compared the pact to NATO’s Article 5, saying that just as an attack on one NATO member is considered an attack on all, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will also jointly defend each other.

However, Asif emphasized that the agreement is not offensive, only defensive. If there is aggression against Saudi Arabia or Pakistan, they will stand together in defense, but the pact will not be used to initiate attacks.

In a separate interview with Reuters, he confirmed that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal would also be available under this agreement for Saudi Arabia. In his words, “Our capabilities will certainly be usable under this pact.”

Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is estimated to include approximately 100–120 warheads.

A senior Saudi official told Reuters that this is a comprehensive defense agreement, encompassing all types of military capabilities.

The defense pact was signed during Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh. According to its main provision, any aggression against one country is considered aggression against both.

India has stated that the pact formalizes the long-standing cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, and it is analyzing its implications.

Political and military analysts suggest that the agreement effectively integrates Saudi Arabia’s economic strength with Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. Pakistan may gain strong financial support and potential benefits from an ‘Arab coalition,’ while Saudi Arabia gains a ‘nuclear shield.’ Consequently, Israel—the only nuclear-armed country in the Middle East—will monitor the situation closely, and Iran will also remain alert.

Regarding the possibility of forming an ‘Arab coalition,’ Khawaja Asif said the door is not closed. Nothing can be said definitively at this stage, but countries and people in the region, especially Muslim populations, have the right to collectively defend themselves.