Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif clarified that the recent attack in Qatar was not the reason behind the Pakistan-Saudi defence agreement, though it may have accelerated the negotiation process.
Speaking to an American journalist, Asif highlighted the long-standing military cooperation between the two nations. “This agreement is not a direct reaction to the Qatar incident,” he said, “but it’s possible the attack expedited the ongoing talks.”
He explained that Pakistan’s forces were already stationed in Saudi Arabia, and the new pact formally structures the bilateral defence partnership.
On global nuclear issues, Asif noted that since Hiroshima and Nagasaki, no nuclear state has supported the use of such weapons.
Turning to domestic politics, the minister admitted shortcomings in Pakistan’s democratic system but expressed optimism about its gradual improvement.
