Islamabad (TDI): President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have conveyed warm felicitations to the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia on the Kingdom’s National Day, underscoring the longstanding fraternal bond between the two countries.
In his message, President Zardari referred to the unique spiritual connection that binds Pakistan with Saudi Arabia due to the presence of Islam’s two holiest sites. He also pointed out that the partnership in defense and security continues to play a crucial role in promoting regional peace.
Prime Minister Shehbaz, meanwhile, reaffirmed that the relationship between the two nations, rooted in trust and brotherhood, will remain steadfast.
Their remarks come shortly after the two countries signed a landmark Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) on September 17 at Al Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. The accord commits both nations to treating an attack on one as an attack on the other, effectively elevating their decades-old security cooperation to a formal alliance.
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The pact builds on a partnership that dates back to the 1951 Treaty of Friendship. Since the 1970s, Pakistani troops have been stationed in Saudi Arabia, particularly tasked with the protection of the Holy Mosques. Over the years, cooperation has included training Saudi forces at Pakistani institutions, joint military drills, and direct assistance during critical moments such as the Al-Wadiah conflict of 1969.
Observers view the new agreement as a response to shifting regional dynamics, with heightened instability and growing security concerns, particularly in the wake of Israel’s assertive posture, creating the need for a NATO-style defensive framework.
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The SMDA is expected to enhance collaboration in training, defense production, and long-term strategic planning. While operational details remain undisclosed, analysts say the pact combines Pakistan’s military expertise with Saudi Arabia’s financial and diplomatic weight, potentially making it a major stabilizing factor in the region.
Officials on both sides describe the agreement as a purely defensive arrangement, designed to safeguard national interests while ushering in a new chapter of deeper bilateral cooperation.
