India will study the “implications” of the strategic defence deal between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for its national security, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.
Responding to media queries, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government was aware that the deal, which formalises a long-standing arrangement between the two countries, had been under consideration.
“We have seen reports of the signing of a strategic mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan,” Jaiswal said.
“We will study the implications of this development for our national security as well as for regional and global stability. The government remains committed to protecting India’s national interests and ensuring comprehensive national security in all domains,” he added.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday signed a defence pact under which any aggression against either country shall be considered as an act of aggression against both. The 'Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement' was signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's state visit to Riyadh.
“This agreement, which 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 defence cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression,” said a statement from the Pakistan PM’s office, reported the Dawn newspaper.
According to the statement, the two sides and their delegations reviewed the historic and strategic relations between the countries.
The key defence deal comes months after India launched Operation Sindoor, a military campaign targeting multiple terror hubs in Pakistan, on May 7 in retaliation to the Pahalgam attack.
India’s action sparked a two-day-long military confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbours, which ended after a ceasefire was reached on May 10.
India, however, has maintained that Operation Sindoor has not ended and any future act of terror will be considered as an act of war against it.