My recent article in the Tribune Sunday magazine titled "Pak-Saudi defence pact: and old brotherhood for a dangerous age" evokes important questions by readers, concerning nature of the agreement, nuclear-sharing and security guarantees, likelihood of both countries getting entangled in each other's wars, possible reaction by the US and Europe, deterrent value of the agreement, etc. This article discusses these queries in an 'opinion mode' without being privy to the exact details, or without speaking for any state institution.

First, the nature of the guarantees. As mentioned, the Saudi focus is in securing non-conventional guarantees ('nuclear umbrella') under the concept of nuclear-sharing, for which a tacit understanding 'reportedly' existed as far back as 2010. The Kingdom just formalised it. Riyadh sought similar protection from the US, which ostensibly made it conditional to the Kingdom joining the Abraham Accords to recognise Israel. However, Tel Aviv's resistance to the Two-State solution and boundaries thereof and prosecution of genocide/atrocities in Gaza literally buried any hopes of the expected Saudi-Israeli rapprochement. Therefore, the Saudi push for mutual defence arrangements with Muslim Pakistan, as an available alternative. Riyadh has a longstanding, deep-rooted and multi-domain defence cooperation, collaboration and production ties with Pakistan.

On September 22, Ali Shihabi, an analyst closer to the Saudi royal court, was quizzed if the deal meant Pakistan offering nukes to defend Saudi Arabia. He replied to AFP: "Yes, it does," explaining "Nuclear is integral to this deal and Pakistan remembers that the kingdom effectively financed their nuclear programme and........

© The Express Tribune