Pakistan minister says its nuclear capabilities will be available to Saudi Arabia under new defense pact

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that his country’s nuclear capabilities will be made available to Saudi Arabia under a newly signed defence pact.

“Let me make one point clear about Pakistan’s nuclear capability: that capability was established long ago when we conducted tests. Since then, we have forces trained for the battlefield. What we have, our capabilities, will absolutely be available under this pact,” Asif said in an interview on Sep 18.

The mutual defense agreement, signed earlier this week, includes the provision that an attack on either Pakistan or Saudi Arabia will be considered an attack on both.

Asif described it as “an umbrella arrangement offered to one another by both sides: if there is aggression against either party – from any side – it will be jointly defended, and the aggression will be met with a response.”

Asif also said that Pakistan views itself as an “abiding nuclear power,” and that its nuclear installations are open to inspections. “All our nuclear installations are open to inspections. We get certificates for our facilities. We are an abiding nuclear power and don't violate anything,” he said.

Further, Asif said that the pact may be extended to include other Gulf nations. He clarified that Pakistan has “no intention” of using the defence pact for aggression but added that if one of the parties is threatened, the arrangement would become operative.

He also emphasized that nuclear weapons themselves are “not on the radar” of the pact.

In a weekly press briefing, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that New Delhi expects Saudi Arabia to consider “mutual interests and sensitivities” in light of the pact.

He also stated that India will take all steps to protect national interests and ensure comprehensive national security; that India will study the implications of the deal for its security both regionally and globally.

Geopolitical analyst Ian Bremmer, in an interview with India Today TV, said the defense pact will not only strengthen Pakistan but will also “alter New Delhi’s security calculus.”

Bremmer added that the agreement “is going to change life for India, no question,” especially considering recent tensions in the region.