The Foreign Office has confirmed that the agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is purely defensive and not directed towards any third country.
During a weekly press briefing in Islamabad on Friday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said the prime minister visited Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He signed a strategic defence agreement with the Saudi leadership. Under the agreement, an attack on either country will be treated as an attack on both.
Khan said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia maintain separate defence and economic ties. He said the two countries cannot offer comment on defence production within the framework of the mutual strategic agreement. He described the defence relationship as long-term and said the agreement would play a significant role in supporting peace, security and stability in the region.
He added that defence relations between the two countries date back to 1960. He reaffirmed that the agreement is defensive in nature and represents a major step towards the promotion of peace and security in the region and beyond. He emphasised that it does not serve as a threat to any third country.
Khan said Pakistan's nuclear doctrine remains clear and forms part of an internal document, unrelated to any other country. He said Pakistan's position remained consistent during the recent Iran–Israel tension. He rejected India’s claim of a nuclear threat from Pakistan and said it amounts to misinformation.
He added evidence of Indian involvement in terrorism exists in other countries. He maintained Pakistan serves as custodian of several sacred Sikh sites, and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib remains fully operational.
Khan said India has not officially announced any decision to stop Sikh pilgrims or to deny visas, although India has restricted the travel of Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan over an extended period.
