ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk): Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed Thursday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has signed a landmark strategic defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, declaring that an attack on either country will be treated as an attack on both.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, during a weekly briefing, said the agreement “will not be used as a threat against any third country” but reflects decades of defence cooperation dating back to the 1960s.
The development is described as a major step forward in bilateral ties.
Khan said the Prime Minister visited Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where he conveyed best wishes for King Salman bin Abdulaziz and underscored Pakistan’s deep-rooted friendship with the Kingdom.
“Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations are unique, long-standing, and the leadership of both countries is committed to taking them to new heights,” Khan told journalists.
Khan also accused New Delhi of “spreading nuclear misinformation” and warned Indian leaders “to assess their own losses before issuing threats.” He stressed that Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine remains an internal matter: “It is clear, responsible, and has nothing to do with any other country.”
The spokesperson also criticised India for hindering Sikh pilgrims from visiting Pakistan, pointing out that Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib remains fully functional. He reaffirmed that Pakistan, as custodian of key Sikh religious sites, continues to welcome pilgrims despite Indian restrictions.
On Kashmir, Khan accused the Indian administration of being “afraid of even the funerals of Hurriyat leaders” and reiterated Pakistan’s stance against Indian state terrorism, which he claimed had also been evidenced in other countries.
OIC, Palestine, and Qatar
The spokesperson highlighted Pakistan’s active diplomacy in the Muslim world, noting that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the emergency OIC summit in Doha, accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also participated in the OIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Doha.
At the summit, the Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for Palestine and strongly condemned Israeli aggression, including what Khan termed the “violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” He said Pakistan also joined calls to safeguard the steadfast aid flotilla, urging all parties to refrain from attacking humanitarian missions in international waters.
Global Outreach
The spokesperson outlined Pakistan’s expanding diplomatic engagements, noting that the German Foreign Minister called Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on September 16, while his Egyptian counterpart spoke to Dar a day earlier. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also contacted Dar on September 13.
Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari visited Shanghai and Chengdu in China as part of his ongoing state visit, underlining Pakistan’s pivot toward deepening strategic ties with Beijing.
Afghanistan and Regional Stability
On Afghanistan, Khan said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s call for good-neighbourly relations had been conveyed through diplomatic channels. He downplayed reports surrounding Special Representative Sadiq Khan’s recent Kabul visit, calling it “routine.”
On US-Afghanistan matters such as the Bagram issue, Khan said, “This is between the Afghan government and the US government. Pakistan does not interfere.”
Addressing regional conflicts, the FO reiterated Pakistan’s consistent position during the recent Iran-Israel flare-up, stressing that Islamabad remains committed to regional peace and opposes destabilising actions.
Khan said the Prime Minister’s upcoming UN General Assembly speech date would be announced soon, signalling Pakistan’s intent to further highlight its stance on Palestine, Kashmir, and regional peace at the global stage.
