Pak Minister: Saudi Can Access Nuclear Capability Under New Defence Pact
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif has confirmed that the country’s nuclear capabilities will be provided to Saudi Arabia under the newly agreed defence pact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. This marks the first public declaration by Pakistan to extend its nuclear capability for nuclear deterrence.
Under the new security pact signed in Riyadh, the Pakistan defence minister responded that Saudi Arabia will also get involved in the event of Delhi’s attack on Islamabad. However, the deal is defensive in nature and will be used in the case of aggression, whether against Saudi Arabia or Pakistan.
On September 17, a ‘Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA)’ was signed between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Notably, Pakistan is the only Muslim world’s only nuclear power.
Read also: Israel Signed $45 Million Deal With Google; Propaganda Videos Boosted To Mitigate Damage: Report
The deal is considered significant from the point of view of regional and international geopolitics, including the war in Gaza and continuous strikes by Israel in the regional countries. It also comes amid the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, after a short conflict in May in which they struck each other’s military bases over four days.
The agreement states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.
Nuclear deterrence is significant for Saudi Arabia after Israel’s continuous aggression and its Greater Israel project, which tends to destabilize the neighbouring countries.
Notably, Pakistan has been a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) with 57 member countries. The agreement came after an urgent summit was called to discuss Israel’s actions in Gaza and the region. The GCC members agreed to develop a joint defence force to deter any act of aggression.
However, the deal could have the possibility to raise eyebrows with the US administration as the close ties of Pakistan and China are a concern for Washington.
