Iran Suggests Expansion of Pakistan-Saudi Defence Pact
Senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, has proposed expansion of Pakistan-Saudi Defence Pact, saying Tehran should also join the pact.
Speaking to Iranian media, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander said, “Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Iraq can reach a collective defence pact.” His comments referred to the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) signed between Islamabad and Riyadh, marking a new phase in their long-standing security partnership.
Strategic Defence Agreement Between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia
The pact was signed in Riyadh by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, just one week after Israeli strikes on Qatar shifted regional dynamics. The agreement pledges that any attack on either nation would be considered an act of aggression against both, thereby establishing a binding commitment to collective security.
International media speculated that Pakistan’s nuclear programme was included in the pact. However, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, in an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan for Zeteo, firmly clarified that Pakistan is not selling nuclear weapons to Saudi Arabia.
A Historic Shift in Regional Security
Experts have described the SMDA as a historic and unprecedented development, elevating Pakistan-Saudi relations into a formal defence alliance. While Pakistan has previously joined defence pacts, this agreement stands out because of its binding clause, ensuring that both nations respond jointly to aggression.
Analysts argue that the move strengthens bilateral ties, while also having broader implications for South Asia and the Islamic world. They further emphasized that Pakistan’s military capability places it in a leading position to ensure regional stability.
Iran’s Call for a Wider Alliance
Commenting on the pact, General Safavi welcomed the development and stressed the need for a broader Islamic defence alliance. He highlighted that the United States’ regional influence is declining as Washington shifts its strategic focus toward the Asia-Pacific.
“In this situation, we can establish a regional Islamic alliance,” Safavi remarked, suggesting that Iran, alongside Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, could strengthen regional security through collective cooperation.
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