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| Photo by Nahi Khabar 24/7 – via Personal Collection |
Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Wednesday clarified that the recently signed Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) with Saudi Arabia is purely defensive in nature and not directed against any third country.
The landmark accord was signed on 17 September 2025 in Riyadh between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking a new phase in the two countries’ historic security partnership.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stressed that the pact aims to strengthen regional peace and stability rather than target any state.
“The agreement is defensive, self-explanatory, and should not be misinterpreted. It reflects our commitment to mutual security, deterrence, and stability in the region,” Khan stated.
Under the pact, an attack on either Saudi Arabia or Pakistan will be considered an attack on both — formalizing decades of security cooperation between the two nations. The deal also covers joint training, defence production, and strategic consultations.
The FO reiterated Pakistan’s foreign policy principle of non-interference, emphasizing that the pact should be seen in the context of long-standing ties between the two countries and their commitment to safeguarding mutual interests.
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