Islamabad:
Pakistan has clarified that his Historical Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) with Saudi Arabia is “purely defensive nature” and does not address any third country.
The Pact would not only strengthen bilateral defense cooperation, but also contribute to regional peace, security and stability, Foreign Ministry Shafqat Ali Khan said Friday.
He said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia “enjoy a long and distinguished history of brotherhood and cooperation”, with bilateral relations described as “unique, durable and multifaceted.” The leadership of both countries, he added, shares a vision to raise the relationship with new heights.
“Since the 1960s, defense cooperation has served as one of the main pillars of Pakistan-Saudita Arabia that covers bilateral relations. The strategic mutual defense agreement formalizes this association of defense of decades and solid,” Khan said while answering the questions.
The spokesman also declared that the relationship between the two nations “lives in the hearts of the people.” The Pakistani, he added, maintain special feelings for Saudi Arabia such as the land of Makkah and Medina and respect the royal family for being the custodian of the sacred sites.
The official statement issued jointly by the two countries explains for itself, he said, adding that “any attribution or speculation out of place of hypothetical scenarios is unjustified.”
Islamabad and Riadh signed the historical SMDA on Wednesday, declaring that the attack on any country would be considered against both. The pact was signed between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the heir prince Mohammed Bin Salman during a day visit to the Saudi capital.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have long -standing strategic and defense cooperation, but the SMDA is considered significant in the context of recent developments, including Israeli strikes over Qatar.
However, a Saudi official told Reuters that the agreement was not intended to respond to any specific event reflected the long strategic cooperation between Islamabad and Riad.
The agreement marks a significant milestone in bilateral ties, which for a long time have been based on close cooperation of defense and security. For decades, Pakistani military coaches have served in the kingdom rich in oil, while Riad has extended generous financial support to Islamabad in times of economic crises.
The visit of the Prime Minister, together with the signing of the pact, underlines Islamabad’s efforts to consolidate ties with the kingdom at a political and security level, even when both countries continue to explore the expanded economic cooperation.
Meanwhile, answering another question, the spokesman said that the issue of the Bagram Air Base was between the United States and Afghanistan. I was talking in the context of a statement by President Donald Trump, who said Thursday that he would recover control of the Bagram military base.
