Khawaja Asif's big statement: Pakistan is not a nuclear umbrella for Saudi Arabia
Islamabad: Pakistan has issued a new statement regarding defense agreements with Saudi Arabia. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that the recently signed Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia has formalized the relationship between the two countries, which has so far been "somewhat transactional." He also made a significant statement regarding the availability of nuclear weapons to Saudi Arabia.
Will Pakistan's nuclear umbrella remain for Saudi Arabia? When Pakistani journalist Hasan asked Khawaja Asif whether Saudi Arabia falls under Pakistan's nuclear security umbrella under this agreement, Asif declined to directly answer, saying, "I won't comment on this, as defense agreements are generally not publicly disclosed."
Hasan also cited American journalist Bob Woodward's book, "War" (2024), which stated that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told a US senator, "I can buy bombs from Pakistan." To this, Asif said, "This is just a sensational statement. No, I don't believe that statement."
Pakistan said, "We are not in the business of selling nuclear weapons." When Khawaja Asif was finally asked, "So, aren't you in the business of selling nuclear weapons to Saudi Arabia?" Asif replied, "Absolutely not. We are very responsible people." Last week, in Riyadh, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement stipulating that an attack on one country would be considered an attack on both. Khawaja Asif had previously hinted that Pakistan's nuclear capabilities could be made available to Riyadh under this new arrangement. However, in a later interview, he clarified that nuclear weapons are not part of the agreement and are "not on the agenda."
What did he say about the Israeli attack on Qatar? When Khawaja Asif was asked whether the agreement was a reaction to the Israeli attack on Qatar, he denied it, saying, "It was already under discussion for quite some time. Recent events may have accelerated the process, but this is not a reaction. It was already in process." The joint statement issued after the agreement said that this defense agreement is based on the nearly eight-decade-old historical cooperation between the two countries, which is rooted in Islamic unity, brotherhood, shared strategic interests, and deep defense cooperation.
You Might Also Like
-
Mohan Babu will be seen as a villain in the upcoming film ‘The Paradise’ starring hero Nani-Srika...
-
United Nations: Even Russia and China together could not save Iran's position at the United Nations...
Leave A Comment
Comments