Islamabad, September 26, 2025 — Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has clarified that Pakistan’s recently signed historic mutual defence agreement with Saudi Arabia is not a response to the Israeli attack on Qatar, but rather the outcome of decades of dialogue and cooperation between the two countries.
In an interview with British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan, Asif highlighted that Pakistan’s defence collaboration with Saudi Arabia spans five to six decades. “Our forces have been deployed in Saudi Arabia before, numbering around 4,000 to 5,000 personnel at one point, and they continue to maintain a presence on Saudi soil,” he noted.
He emphasized that the latest agreement is designed to formalise an already longstanding partnership rather than create a new arrangement. “This agreement simply institutionalises the defence relations we have had for a long time. Previously, they were based on individual transactions,” Asif explained.
On Pakistan’s nuclear policy, the minister reiterated the country’s commitment to restraint, stating, “After Hiroshima and Nagasaki, no nuclear power supports the use of these weapons,” and stressed Pakistan’s adherence to international norms promoting peace.
Turning to domestic matters, Asif reflected on Pakistan’s democratic progress. “Our democracy is not perfect, but it is moving forward. I myself have spent six months in jail without any charges,” he remarked, underscoring ongoing challenges in the nation’s political landscape.
