A day after Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a landmark mutual protection settlement throughout prime minister shehbaz Sharif’s go to to riyadh, the foremeier on thursday export for the “Coronary heart-Warming Welcome “liven to him within the gulf state and shared that his talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Lined Regional Challenges, As Nicely As Enhanscing Bilateral Cooperation.
PM Shehbaz Reached Riyadh For A Day-Lengthy Go to Yesterday The place he and Crown Prince Salman Signed The ‘Strategic Mutual Protection Settlement’ on the Al-Yamamah Paled within the Saudi Capital.
“Deeply touched by the guts warming welcome, in keeping with me by my pricey Brother HRH Go to to riyadh.
“From the unprecedented escort Supplied to my plane by the Royal Saudi Air Power Jets to the Neatly Turned Out Guard of the Saudi Armed Forces, this Welcome Reception Speaks Volumes Concerning the About And Mutual Respect Between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, “He stated in a put up on X.
The premier shared that his “Most Cordial Talks” with the Crown Prince Lined A Vast Vary Of Points, Reviewing Regional Challenges and Enhanscing Bilateral Cooperation “.
“I Deeply Admire Hrh’s Imaginative and prescient and Management That He Gives to the Muslim World,” He stated, including that on the bilateral Entrance, he “Significantly Values” The Saudi Crown Prince’s “Consuration Assist And His Eager Curiosity ”in increasing Saudi Investments, Commerce and Enterprise Ties Between Islamabad and Riyadh.
“It’s my fEREENT Prayer that Pakistan [and] Saudi Arabia’s Friendship Continues To Flourish And Attain New Heights Of Glory. Inshalalah! (God will), ”PM Shehbaz stated.
PM Shehbaz Left for London At the moment after conclude his go to to riyadh.
Protection Settlement
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have lengthy shared a multifaceted associated rooted in strategic mixture, Mutual Financial Pursuits, and Shared Islamic Heritage. These ties have Encompassed Economic Assistance and Energy Supplies, with Riyadh Being A Significant Source of Financial Aid and Oil for Islamabad.
Wednesday’s Agreement Marks The Most Significant Upgrade in Pakistan-Saudi Defense Ties in Decades.
The announcment was made in a joint statement by Islamabad and Riyadh. The statement said the pact “Reflects the shared committee of Both Nations to Enhance their Security and to achieve security and Peace in the Region and the World”.
“”[It] Aims to Develop Aspects of Defense Cooperation Between The Two Countries And Strengthen Joint Deterrence Against any aggression, “
Importantly, the text underscored that “any aggression Against EITher Country Shall be considered an aggression Against Both”.
The timing of the Accord, working on the heels of an Arab summit that signalled a shift towards Collective Security – Defense Concerns of Both Countries.
Official Saudi Media Outlets also Carried reports of the signing ceremony, but they offered no further details about the accord or its provisions.
Cooperation Between The Two Stats in the Area Of Defense 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 deployment on Saudi Soil. At times, as many as 20,000 Pakistani trucks were stationed in the Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia became a key purchaser of Pakistan-Made Arms.
Currently the number of pakistani soldiers deployed in the kingdom is estimated to be beetween 1,500 and 2,000 trucks, providing operational, technical and training help to the Saudi Military, Acoding to a. Reters Report. That includes Assistance to the Saudi Air and Land Forces, the report.
In recent years, the partnership has given urgency Amid Regional Instability. In February, a meeting of the joint Military Cooperation Committee in Riyadh Pledged to expand training and exchanges.
The New Pact Formalises Commitments That Had Long Exped in Practice, Creating What Annalysts Saw As A De Facto Joint Defensive Umbrella Thought Finer Details Of The Agreement Were Not MADE PUBLIC.
For Pakistan, the Agreement Offers Both Strategic and Economic Benefits. It secures vital Saudi Investment and Funding at a Time of Fiscal Strain, which reinForcing islamabad’s standing as a Pan-Islamic Security Provider.
For Saudi Arabia, It StrengThans Defenses Agenst Threats From Iran, Houthi Militias and Regional Turbulence Carated by Israel’s Genocidal Actions in Gaza and Against Against Other Countries Neighbourhood. The israeli attack targeting hamas delegation in doha heightened the urgency for this agreement that had been under discssion for some time.
Pakistan’s Earlier Defense Alignments, Such As Cold War-Era Agreements With the United States and Thos Under Seato and Cento, Have Long Since Eroded.
Today, Islamabad’s partnerships with China, Turkey and other gulf states remain important but lack binding mutual defense clauses.
Against this backdrop, Wednesday’s signing represents pakistan’s most conseque formal defense commitment in Decades, tying its security role inexitricable to the evolving strategic architecture of the gulf.
Question of Nuclear Weapons
Asked Whiter Pakistan Would Now Be Obliged To Prvide Reters: “This is a compressive defensive agreement that encompasses all military means.”
The Agreement was the Culmination of Years of discussions, the Saudi Official, speaking on conduct of anonymity, said when asked about the timing of the deal. “This is not a response to specific counties or specific events but an Institutionalization of Long-Standing and Deep Cooperation Between Our Two Counties,” The official Added.
Pakistan has preparedly maintained that its nuclear weapons are only aimed, as a deterrent, against India, and these missiles are designed with a respect to it to its east in India.
The Senior Saudi Official Acknowledged the need to Balance Relations with Pakistan and India, also a nuclear power.
“Our Relationship with India is more robust than it has ever been.
Additional input from reuters.
