NEW DELHI: India said Thursday it would study the implications of a defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, with regard to its national security, regional and global security.
“We have seen reports of the signing of a strategic mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan,” foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.
“The government remains committed to protecting India’s national interests and ensuring comprehensive national security in all domains,” the spokesperson said while reacting to the mutual defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
New Delhi’s reaction comes against the backdrop of clashes between Pakistan and India in May when Pakistan’s military downed six Indian fighter jets, including Rafale. The reaction also comes a day after Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement”, pledging to treat any aggression against one country as aggression against both.
India had launched cross-border strikes into Pakistan, prompting the latter to first down multiple Indian Air Force (IAF) jets in retaliation, followed by the launch of “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos”. The conflict eventually ended after a ceasefire brokered by the United States.
The Pakistan-Saudi Arabia pact was signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh on Wednesday, where he was received by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace.
The pact reflects a joint commitment to enhance bilateral security ties and contribute to regional and global peace, the statement said. It aims to develop defence cooperation further and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression.
Crucially, the defence agreement stipulates that any aggression against one country shall be considered aggression against both.
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The agreement was signed days after Israel launched a strike against Qatar, targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, a move that sparked outrage among Muslim nations and world leaders alike.
Experts have described the agreement as a “historic and unprecedented development”, elevating bilateral ties into a formal security commitment. They noted that while Pakistan has previously joined various defence pacts, this accord stands out for its binding clause that treats any aggression against either country as an attack on both.
The move, they argued, not only strengthens Pakistan–Saudi relations but also carries wider significance for South Asia and the Islamic world, positioning Pakistan as the most capable Muslim power to safeguard regional stability.
