‘Mutual interests and sensitivities’: India on Saudi-Pak defence pact, notes ‘wide-ranging strategic partnership’ with Riyadh

Randhir Jaiswal

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said India shares a “wide-ranging strategic partnership” with Saudi Arabia, one that has deepened considerably in the last few years.

On a question over the Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defence pact, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We expect that this strategic partnership will keep in mind mutual interests and sensitivities.”

His remarks came after Islamabad and Riyadh on Wednesday signed a "strategic mutual defence" agreement, which declares that any attack on either country will be considered "an aggression against both".

The deal was signed by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the Pakistani leader's day-long visit to the Gulf Kingdom, according to a joint statement.

"This agreement, which reflects the shared commitment of both nations to enhance their security and to achieving security and peace in the region and the world, aims to develop aspects of defence cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression," it added.

After the agreement was signed, Jaiswal said India would study the implications of the move for its national security as well as for regional and global stability.

“The government was aware that this development, which formalises a long-standing arrangement between the two countries, had been under consideration. We will study the implications of this development for our national security as well as for regional and global stability,” he said.

The government remains committed to protecting India’s national interests and ensuring comprehensive national security in all domains, Jaiswal stated.

The agreement came over four months after a four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan in May.

According to the Pakistan-Saudi joint statement, the pact builds on the historic partnership extending for nearly eight decades between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and is based on the bonds of brotherhood and Islamic solidarity, as well as shared strategic interests and close defence cooperation between the two countries.