Pakistan Saudi defense deal threat to India?

Saudi Arabia to defend Pakistan in the event of India declaring war

• Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told reporters in Islamabad on Friday that Saudi Arabia will defend Pakistan in the event of India declaring war, stressing on the ‘strategic mutual assistance’ component of the deal the two countries signed this week.
• "Yes, absolutely. There is no doubt about it..." Khawaja Asif told Geo TV, a Pakistani news channel, comparing with Article 5 of the NATO agreement that refers to ‘collective defence’, which signifies a military attack on one bloc member is an attack on all.
• The Pakistan minister, however emphasized the deal with Saudi Arabia is a ‘defensive’ rather than ‘offensive arrangement’, again comparing with NATO.
• "If there is aggression, whether against Saudi Arabia or Pakistan, we will jointly defend against it," Khawaja Asif told Geo TV.
• "We have no intention of using this pact for any aggression," Khawaja Asif told Reuters separately.
• "But if the parties are threatened, then obviously this arrangement will become operative."
• Khawaja Asif also confirmed that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are available for use by Saudi Arabia. However, Pakistan’s stated doctrine states that the warheads are for use against India only.

Pakistan allows inspections of its nuclear facilities

• "Our capabilities will absolutely be available under this pact," Khawaja Asif said, noting that Pakistan had always allowed the inspection of its nuclear facilities and never committed any violations.
• A senior Saudi official asked if the deal means Pakistan is now obliged to offer a nuclear shield, stated to Reuters, "This is a comprehensive defensive agreement that encompasses all military means."
• The mutual agreement had been signed during Pakistan Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh this week.
• According to reports by NDTV earlier, a major clause of this agreement says that "any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both".

India breaks silence on Pak-Saudi defense deal

• In response to the Pak-Saudi defense deal, the Indian government stated the Pak-Saudi pact "formalises a long-standing arrangement between the two countries" and that the effects are being considered.
• Military and political analysts stated to Reuters the deal effectively marries Riyadh’s money with Islamabad’s nuclear power, and means a big win for both sides.
• For Pakistan, the positive is formidable financial backing and the possibility of an ‘Arab nations alliance’.
• When questioned about a larger ‘Arab alliance’, the Pakistan Defence Minister would only say “the doors are not closed’. ”I cannot prematurely answer this... but I think it is a fundamental right of the countries and people here, particularly the Muslim population, to defend their region together.

Editor’s Note

• With Pakistan tying the knot of their defense deal with Saudi Arabia, it will be imperative that the deal is only used for defence and not for offence. With India on high alert as the deal goes on, the possibility of a full-fledged war is not likely. It will be interesting to see if India retaliates with any new deal with its allies.
• #india #pakistan #strategicmutualassistance #nato