Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a defence pact with joint response pledges, but officials conflicted over whether nuclear deterrence is shared.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif gave conflicting remarks on a new defence pact with Saudi Arabia, first suggesting nuclear deterrence was included before later denying it. Signed in Riyadh, the agreement commits both nations to a joint response against aggression. Foreign Office spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan declined to clarify nuclear details, calling the doctrine evolving. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said other states have shown interest in similar deals. India voiced concern, saying it will assess the pact’s impact on regional stability while noting it formalizes longstanding Saudi-Pakistani ties.