By Sajid Khan

Islamabad— Pakistan described the recently concluded Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) with Saudi Arabia as a “historic milestone” in the two countries’ decades-long defense partnership, while rejecting speculation that the accord is directed against any third country.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, addressing the weekly press briefing, said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia “enjoy a unique, enduring and multifaceted relationship rooted in brotherhood and mutual respect.” He noted that defense cooperation has been a principal pillar of bilateral ties since the 1960s, and the new agreement “formalizes and consolidates” this robust partnership.

“The SMDA is defensive in nature and not directed against any other country. It will contribute to regional peace, security, and stability. Any misplaced attribution or speculation regarding hypothetical scenarios is unwarranted,” Khan said, emphasizing that the joint statement issued by both governments was self-explanatory.

When asked if the agreement was rushed in light of recent tensions in the Gulf following Israel’s attack on Qatar, the spokesperson rejected such suggestions, stressing that bilateral cooperation is longstanding and institutionalized. He pointed out that the Supreme Coordination Council, co-chaired by the leadership of both countries, continues to provide strategic direction across defense, economic, and cultural tracks.

Responding to questions on whether Pakistan’s nuclear deterrence now extends to Saudi Arabia, Khan reiterated that Pakistan’s nuclear policy remains internal, guided by national security requirements and regional stability concerns. “Our position is well known. Discipline and restraint remain our guiding principles,” he said, while dismissing reports about extending deterrence to a third country.

The spokesperson was also pressed on whether the pact implied Pakistani troops could fight beyond Saudi borders in the event of a regional conflict. He said: “Speculative scenarios are unwarranted. This is a consolidation of decades-old cooperation, defensive in nature.”

Turning to Afghanistan, Khan repeated Islamabad’s concerns about terrorist sanctuaries across the border, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He recalled Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent statement in Bannu, urging Kabul to “choose between friendship with Pakistan or continued support for TTP militants.”

“The Prime Minister’s message was clear and has been conveyed to Afghan authorities through diplomatic channels. Afghanistan remains a close neighbor, and Pakistan wishes for brotherly relations, but the core impediment is the sanctuaries terrorists enjoy there,” Khan said.

He confirmed that Ambassador Sadiq Khan continues to engage with the Afghan authorities as part of his mandate but stressed that Islamabad expects Kabul to take decisive action against groups using Afghan soil to launch attacks inside Pakistan.

On India, Khan strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks glorifying military operations against Pakistan, calling them “dangerous distortions” meant for domestic political consumption. He reiterated that Pakistan’s defensive actions in recent standoffs had “resoundingly neutralized” Indian aggression.

Khan also underlined Pakistan’s solidarity with Kashmiris, condemned curbs on religious freedoms in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and dismissed Indian disinformation campaigns.

Concluding, the spokesperson said the SMDA demonstrates the depth of Pak-Saudi ties while reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to peace, regional stability, and responsible engagement.