Riyadh – Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a formal mutual defence agreement, marking a major step in their decades-long security partnership.

According to a joint statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the pact reflects the shared commitment of both nations to strengthen security and peace in the region and beyond. It aims to expand defence cooperation and establish joint deterrence, declaring that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”

The agreement was described as being rooted in the “historic partnership” between Riyadh and Islamabad, built on shared strategic interests and close defence cooperation.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met in Riyadh on Wednesday, where they discussed expanding the strategic partnership across multiple sectors, exchanged views on regional and global issues, and reaffirmed efforts toward stability. Sharif is currently on a state visit to Saudi Arabia.

“This agreement is a culmination of years of discussions. It is not a reaction to any specific country or event but rather the institutionalisation of our long-standing cooperation,” a senior Saudi official told press. When asked if the pact involved Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, the official described it as a “comprehensive defensive agreement that encompasses all military means” but did not provide further details.

The signing took place two days after an extraordinary joint session of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), convened in response to Israel’s September 9 attack on Doha, Qatar, which killed several Hamas political leaders who were meeting to discuss a US-backed ceasefire proposal. Arab and Islamic countries strongly condemned the strike.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have maintained close trade and defence relations for decades. Since 1967, Pakistan has trained more than 8,200 Saudi military personnel, and the two countries have conducted multiple joint exercises.