Defence Minister Khawaja Asif signals nuclear backing under Saudi pact
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that his country’s nuclear capabilities could be extended to Saudi Arabia under a newly signed mutual defence pact, marking the first open acknowledgement of placing the kingdom under Islamabad’s nuclear umbrella.
Speaking to Geo TV, Asif emphasised: “Let me make one point clear about Pakistan’s nuclear capability: that capability was established long ago when we conducted tests. Since then, we have forces trained for the battlefield. What we have, our capabilities, will absolutely be available under this pact.”
The defence agreement, signed on Wednesday, declares that an attack on either nation will be considered an attack on both. Asif described the arrangement as an “umbrella arrangement offered to one another by both sides: if there is aggression against either party – from any side – it will be jointly defended, and the aggression will be met with a response.”
Nuclear transparency and regional implications
Asif also underlined Pakistan’s position as an “abiding nuclear power”, stating that its nuclear installations are open to inspections. “All our nuclear installations are open to inspections. We get certificates for our facilities. We are an abiding nuclear power and don’t violate anything,” he said, contrasting Pakistan’s transparency with Israel’s secretive nuclear programme.
The Defence Minister further clarified that nuclear weapons were “not on the radar” of the pact and stressed that the agreement was not intended for aggression. “We have no intention of using this pact for any aggression. But if the parties are threatened, then obviously this arrangement will become operative,” he told Reuters.
Analysts note that the pact comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region following Israeli strikes, including an attack in Doha targeting top Hamas leaders. The agreement is widely seen as a signal to Israel, long considered the Middle East’s only nuclear-armed state.
Saudi Arabia has historically been suspected of supporting Pakistan’s nuclear programme financially. Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, developed primarily to counter India, is estimated at around 170 warheads, nearly equal to India’s 172, according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.
India’s response and strategic outlook
In a weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India expects Saudi Arabia to consider “mutual interests and sensitivities” in light of the pact with Pakistan. He added that New Delhi will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and assess the implications for regional and global security.
Geopolitical analyst Ian Bremmer, President of Eurasia Group, told India Today TV that the pact “is going to change life for India, no question,” noting that it could alter India’s security calculus, particularly following recent tensions such as India’s Operation Sindoor military action in Pakistan in May.
The Pakistan-Saudi defence pact highlights evolving security dynamics in the Gulf and South Asia, raising questions about nuclear strategy, regional alliances, and future geopolitical alignments.