Islamabad: India's Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday — in response to Pakistan’s mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia — said that the country remained committed to protecting their “national interests and ensuring comprehensive national security."
In a statement issued by the India Ministry of External Affairs today, the spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “We have seen reports of the signing of a strategic mutual defense pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.”
He said that the Indian government was aware of the development, which formalized a long-standing arrangement between the two countries, and it had been “under consideration.”
The government said that would study the implications of development for their national security as well as for “regional and global stability.”
India and Pakistan engaged in a four-day military conflict earlier this year, nearly escalating into a full-blown war.
The Ministry of External Affairs said: “The government remains committed to protecting India's national interests and ensuring comprehensive national security in all domains."
Both Islamabad and Riyadh signed a “Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement,” declaring that any act of aggression against either country would be considered an attack on both.
Earlier this month, Israel had targeted leaders of the Palestinian group in Doha, escalating Israeli military action in the region.
In response, Arab and Muslim leaders in the world gathered in Doha for an emergency Arab-Islamic summit, reaffirming their “collective duty to respond” to Israeli military actions.
