ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan on Friday clarified that the recently signed Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) is not directed against any third country.
Speaking during the weekly press briefing, Ambassador Shafqat referred to the agreement signed during Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud’s state visit to Riyadh on 17 September 2025.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the Saudi Crown Prince formalized the pact, which stipulates that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”
Ambassador Shafqat explained that the SMDA is rooted in the “deep bonds of brotherhood, Islamic solidarity, shared strategic interests, and a history of close defence cooperation” between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that the agreement aims to enhance security and promote peace and stability in the region and beyond.
“The purpose of the agreement is to develop the scope of defence cooperation and strengthen joint deterrence against any potential aggression,” he said.
Addressing questions from media representatives, the spokesperson reiterated that the SMDA is purely defensive in nature. He underlined that it is not targeted against any third country and is intended to safeguard the strategic partnership between the two nations while ensuring regional stability.
Ambassador Shafqat further noted that during the state visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Saudi Crown Prince reviewed the historic bilateral relationship and exchanged views on a range of issues of mutual interest, underscoring the continuity of strategic collaboration.
The spokesperson highlighted that the agreement complements the broader efforts of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to deepen defence, security, and strategic cooperation, while fostering peace and stability across the region.
