Hope Saudi keeps mutual interests, sensitivities in mind: India on Pak defence deal

A day after Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a key mutual defence agreement, declaring that any attack on either country will be treated as an attack on both, India said that it hoped the strategic partnership between the two Islamic nations keeps the India-Saudi Arabia mutual interests and sensitivities in mind.

"India and Saudi Arabia have a wide-ranging strategic partnership which has deepened considerably in the last several years. We expect that this strategic partnership will keep in mind mutual interests and sensitivities," Randhir Jaiswal, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said during a media briefing.

On Thursday, India said it was closely monitoring the development and would take all necessary steps to safeguard its national interests and ensure "comprehensive national security in all domains".

"We will study the implications of this development for our national security, as well as for regional and global stability. The Government remains committed to protecting India’s national interests and ensuring comprehensive national security in all domains," Jaiswal had said.

The Strategic Mutual Defence Agreemen legally allows Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal to be considered in the defence of Saudi Arabia if required, underscoring the seriousness of the alliance.

The pact was signed when Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif were on a visit to Saudi Arabia.

The development comes on the foothills of a summit in Doha, attended by 40 Islamic nations including Pakistan, where leaders pushed for a Nato-like alliance after Israel’s last week strike on Hamas leaders who had reached Qatar for Gaza truce talks.

Notably, Pakistan is the only Islamic nation with nuclear weapons.

India said it is aware of the development and acknowledged that the mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan has been in the works for some time.

CONGRESS CONCERNED OVER DEAL

On Thursday, the Congress voiced concern over the Saudi-Pakistan defence agreement, warning that it carries serious implications for India’s national security. The party termed it another "setback for the much-hyped personalised diplomacy" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a post on X, Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh noted that just a month after Operation Sindoor was "abruptly" halted, US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir for lunch at the White House — "the same person whose incendiary and inflammatory statements directly led to the Pahalgam terror attacks of April 2025".

"Now, Saudi Arabia, where the Prime Minister was when the Pahalgam terror attacks took place, has signed a 'strategic mutual defence' pact with Pakistan," Ramesh said.

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