Pakistan’s Defense Minister Confirms Nuclear Inclusion in New Saudi Agreement

Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Kawaja Mohammad Asif, recently addressed some lingering inquiries regarding a defense pact with Saudi Arabia. He confirmed that the agreement indeed includes provisions for Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.

This agreement, according to sources, has been in the works for several months. The announcement gained attention following recent tensions in the region, notably related to Israel’s actions and the ongoing challenges with Hamas, who are seen as a concern by security analysts due to their connections with Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities.

The nature of the Saudi-Pakistan agreement reflects language similar to that of NATO, essentially aiming to classify an attack against one country as an attack against the other. It remains uncertain, however, whether this indicates that Pakistan would extend its nuclear protection to Saudi Arabia.

For years, Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal has been recognized by the global community as a deterrent against its rival, India, a fellow nuclear power. The two nations have had numerous conflicts, but the fear of nuclear escalation has, to some extent, kept these skirmishes from spiraling into full-blown war particularly after tensions flared in May 2025 linked to a terrorist attack India attributed to Pakistan.

Over the years, there has been criticism of Pakistan’s development of long-range ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads. Asif was directly questioned in an interview whether the recent defense agreement includes a nuclear deterrent, to which he responded affirmatively.

“Let’s clarify one point about Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities. That ability was established long ago when we conducted our tests. Since then, we have continuously refined our capabilities for potential battle scenarios,” Asif stated.

He also emphasized that the abilities conferred under this agreement would be made available, but mentioned that it’s not specifically aimed at Israel.

“No specific countries are targeted where aggression would automatically trigger a response. Neither Saudi Arabia nor we have named any such nations,” he added, hinting at a mutual understanding of defense obligations rather than direct provocations.

Another point of concern regarding this pact is the potential for other nations to join in mutual defense agreements, raising the possibility of escalating conflicts in the region. Asif acknowledged that expanding the defense pact to include additional countries is indeed a possibility.

“I can say the door is open for other nations,” he noted.

In a separate discussion in London, Pakistan’s deputy prime minister, Isaac Dah, echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that it’s premature to make definitive statements. He mentioned that other countries have shown interest in pursuing analogous arrangements following this development.

As Dah elaborated, “The procedures can be quite extensive, as seen with Saudi Arabia, which took several months to finalize its pact.” Diplomatic discussions hint at a budding interest in bolstering military ties, particularly with countries like Qatar and potentially the UAE, as Pakistan seeks to strengthen its position against India.

After Pakistan’s agreement with Saudi Arabia was announced, India’s Foreign Ministry indicated awareness of these developments, stating the need to assess the implications on national security and regional stability.