Pak Defence Minister's bombshell: If need be, our n-programme can be given to the Saudis, Pg 1.

Key Highlights:

• Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) on Wednesday during Pakistan PM Shahbaz Sharif's visit to Riyadh.
• The agreement states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.
• Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif stated that Pakistan's nuclear program could be made available to Saudi Arabia if needed under the new defense pact.
• An estimated 1,200 to 2,000 Pakistani troops are already stationed in Saudi Arabia.
• In August 2025, India offered to provide training to the Saudi Armed Forces during the 7th meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation.

Detailed Insights:

• The Saudi-Pakistan defense equation has historically been defined by Saudi economic support and Pakistani military assistance, underpinned by religious commonality.
• Saudi Arabia's interest in the SMDA is driven by a desire to de-escalate conflicts in the Middle East, particularly concerning Israel's role in the region.
• Pakistan aims to leverage the Arab need for a stronger position against Israel to reinforce its security capabilities and deterrence against India.
• India's defense partnership with Saudi Arabia is growing, featuring new defense exercises and institutional cooperation, despite Pakistan's older ties.
• Saudi Arabia condemned the Pahalgam terror attack during the May 2025 India-Pakistan crisis while refraining from condemning Operation Sindoor.
• The SMDA's impact on Saudi behavior towards India-Pakistan crises is questionable, given the lack of specific commitments in the agreement.
• Pakistan has invested diplomatic efforts to convince the United States that its nuclear deterrent is focused on India.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA): A defense pact where aggression against one country is considered aggression against both.
• Nuclear Deterrent: A country's nuclear weapons capability used to discourage attack by another state.
• Strategic Autonomy: A country's ability to make independent foreign policy and defense decisions based on its own interests.