Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday departed for London after wrapping up his state visit to Saudi Arabia, where Pakistan and the Kingdom finalised a milestone defence pact.
Deputy Governor of Riyadh, Prince Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, bid farewell to the premier at Riyadh Airport.
PM Shehbaz was in the Kingdom at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The two leaders signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement – a landmark accord that is expected to deepen security and defence cooperation between the two nations.
During his meeting with the crown prince, the two leaders reviewed regional challenges and discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation.
Earlier in a post on X, the prime minister said he was “deeply touched” by the warm reception given to him by Saudi Crown Prince during his official one-day visit to Riyadh.
He described the unprecedented escort of his aircraft by Royal Saudi Air Force jets and the smart guard of the Saudi Armed Forces as proof of the “abiding love and mutual respect” between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
The premier praised the Crown Prince’s “vision and leadership” in guiding the Muslim world and highlighted his “consistent support” and “keen interest” in expanding Saudi investment, trade and business ties with Pakistan.
PM Shehbaz added that he prays for Pakistan-Saudi Arabia friendship to “continue to flourish and attain new heights of glory.”
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday signed a landmark “Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement”, declaring that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both”,” according to a Pak-Saudi joint statement.
The pact was signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
“Building on the historic partnership extending for nearly eight decades between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and based on the bonds of brotherhood and Islamic solidarity, as well as shared strategic interests and close defense cooperation between the two countries, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister and His Excellency Mr. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan signed the ‘Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement’,” the statement read.
It added that the agreement “reflects the shared commitment of both nations to enhance their security and to achieve security and peace in the region and the world, aims to develop aspects of defense cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression.”
The agreement states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have longstanding strategic and defense cooperation but the latest pact is seen as significant against the backdrop of recent developments including Israeli strikes on Qatar.
A Saudi official, however, told Reuters that the agreement was not meant to respond to any specific event rather reflected the longstanding strategic cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh.
The agreement marks a significant milestone in bilateral ties, which have long rested on close defense and security cooperation. For decades, Pakistani military trainers have served in the kingdom, while Riyadh has extended generous financial support to Islamabad in times of economic crisis.