Dubai
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said on Friday that the country’s nuclear program could be extended to Saudi Arabia under a new defense pact, marking the first explicit acknowledgment of such an arrangement, Asif stated, “Our nuclear program will be made available if needed,” confirming Riyadh’s inclusion under Pakistan’s nuclear protection.
The announcement follows the signing of a defense agreement on Wednesday, in which both nations declared that an attack on one would be considered an attack on both. Analysts see the pact as a significant shift in regional defense strategy, particularly as it signals deterrence to Israel, which is widely believed to be the Middle East’s only nuclear-armed state.
The timing of the announcement is also notable. Last week, Israel conducted an airstrike in Qatar targeting Hamas leaders, which killed six people. The incident heightened security concerns across Gulf Arab nations already wary of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Observers say Pakistan’s declaration could reshape regional security alignments, giving Saudi Arabia strategic backing without openly pursuing its own nuclear weapons program. For Pakistan, the pact deepens its long-standing defense partnership with Riyadh, historically rooted in military training, arms sales, and financial support.
While Islamabad has not elaborated on the operational details of such nuclear coverage, the statement is expected to draw international scrutiny, particularly from Western powers concerned about nuclear proliferation.
By offering its nuclear umbrella to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan has placed itself at the center of Middle Eastern security calculations, at a time when tensions remain high and alliances continue to shift.