Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the recently signed Pakistan–Saudi Arabia defence pact has “formalised” a longstanding relationship between the two nations, one that was earlier “a bit transactional.”

In an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan for Zeteo, Khawaja Asif clarified that the agreement was not a reaction to recent regional developments, though global tensions may have accelerated its conclusion.

The accord, signed on September 17 by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, pledges that any attack on either country will be treated as aggression against both.

Addressing speculation, Asif denied suggestions that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal was part of the framework.

“We are very responsible people,” he said, stressing that nuclear weapons are “not on the radar” in this agreement.

He added that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s defence ties go back more than five decades, including the sustained presence of Pakistani troops in the Kingdom.

When asked about claims in journalist Bob Woodward’s book that Saudi Arabia might “buy” a bomb from Pakistan, Asif dismissed the statement as “sensationalised” and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to responsible global conduct.

The minister concluded that while details of the pact would not be made public, the agreement represents a shift from transactional arrangements to a deeper, strategic partnership rooted in mutual security and long-term trust.