Pakistan's new statement on the defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, said this on the availability of nuclear weapons:

News Topical, Digital Desk : Pakistan has issued a new statement regarding defense agreements with Saudi Arabia. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that the recently signed Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia formalizes the relationship between the two countries, which has so far been "somewhat transactional." He also made a significant statement regarding the availability of nuclear weapons to Saudi Arabia.

Will Pakistan's nuclear umbrella remain for Saudi Arabia?

When Pakistani journalist Hasan asked Khawaja Asif whether Saudi Arabia comes under Pakistan's nuclear security umbrella under the agreement, Asif refused to give a direct answer and said, "I will not comment on this, as defence agreements are generally not disclosed publicly."

Hasan also cited American journalist Bob Woodward's book "War" (2024), which stated that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had told a US senator, "I can buy bombs from Pakistan." Asif replied, "That's just a sensational statement. No, I don't believe that statement."

Pakistan said – we are not in the business of selling nuclear weapons

When Khawaja Asif was finally asked, "So, aren't you in the business of selling nuclear weapons to Saudi Arabia?" Asif replied, "Absolutely not. We are very responsible people." Last week, in Riyadh, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement stipulating that an attack on one country would be considered an attack on both. Khawaja Asif had previously hinted that Pakistan's nuclear capabilities could be made available to Riyadh under this new arrangement. However, in a later interview, he clarified that nuclear weapons are not part of the agreement and are "not on the agenda."

What did he say about the Israeli attack on Qatar?

When Khawaja Asif was asked whether the agreement was a reaction to the Israeli attack on Qatar, he denied it, saying, "It was already under discussion for a long time. Recent events may have accelerated the process, but this is not a reaction. It was already in process." A joint statement issued after the agreement said that this defense agreement is based on the nearly eight-decade-old historical cooperation between the two countries, which is based on Islamic unity, brotherhood, shared strategic interests and deep defense cooperation.