Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign a joint strategic defense agreement.

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign a joint strategic defense agreement. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed a joint strategic defense agreement in Riyadh on Wednesday, aimed at strengthening military cooperation between the two countries and consolidating the partnership that has extended for nearly eight decades. A joint statement broadcast by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) stated that the agreement comes within the framework of the two countries' keenness to "strengthen their security and achieve stability in the region and the world," adding that it stipulates that "any attack on one party is considered an attack on both." The statement indicated that Shehbaz Sharif's visit came at the invitation of the Saudi Crown Prince, during which the historical and strategic relations between Riyadh and Islamabad were reviewed, in addition to discussing regional and international issues of common interest. For its part, Reuters quoted a senior Saudi official as saying that the agreement "reflects the long-standing defense cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and is not related to current events." The move comes about a week after the Israeli attack on the Qatari capital, Doha, on September 9, which targeted a meeting of Hamas leaders and resulted in casualties, in an incident that sparked widespread Arab and international condemnation. Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Pakistani Prime Minister had met in Doha on the sidelines of the emergency Arab-Islamic summit, where the two sides discussed prospects for bilateral cooperation and developments in the region. According to diplomatic sources, Shehbaz Sharif's visit to the Kingdom - which lasted one day - came to confirm the two countries' commitment to moving forward in strengthening political, economic and defense cooperation, and consolidating their common positions on regional and international challenges.