President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif expanded sincere congratulations to Saudi leadership and their people on the occasion of the Saudi National Day, praising the deep and lasting link between the two nations, Tuesday.
President Zardari highlighted the spiritual connection deepened by the presence of the two most sacred sites of Islam in the kingdom. He also pointed out that the Association in Defense and Security is a vital step towards regional peace.
Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirmed that the historical ties of mutual trust and the brotherhood will always remain strong.
This feeling was formally cemented on a historic “Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA)” signed on September 17, 2025 at the Palace of Al Yamamah in Riad.
The agreement aims to “strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression”, indicating that an attack against any country will be considered an attack against both. This formalizes a defense relationship that has been decades in creation.
Read: Pak-Saudi Defense Pact: an old co-confused brotherhood for a dangerous age
The pact is the culmination of an association that began with a friendship treaty in 1951. Since the 1970s, Pakistani soldiers have been parked in Saudi Arabia for the sacred duty to protect the sacred sites.
The collaboration has included the training of Saudi military personnel in Pakistani institutions, joint exercises and Pakistani support in key moments, such as the Al-Wadiah War in 1969.
The recent agreement is considered a strategic response to a changing regional security panorama. Analysts suggest that recent instability and perceived threats of an assertive Israel have created an urgency for such a formal NATO style agreement.
Read more: Pakistan, Ksa Sign Defense Pact
The pact integrates Pakistan’s military capacities with the diplomatic and financial strength of Saudi Arabia, creating a significant stabilizing force in the region.
While specific operational details remain confidential, the agreement is expected to imply better training in training, defense production and strategic planning.
Also read: Riad expects Delhi to understand the security needs of the kingdom
The agreement is a defensive framework that ensures the national interests of both nations, promising a new era of collective security and deeper bilateral ties.
