Pakistan stands 'should to shoulder' with Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its sovereignty, security: PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to “safeguarding” Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and security in his message to the Gulf state on its National Day. The National Day, observed every year on September 23, marks the unification of the kingdom at the hands of King Abdulaziz in 1932. In a post on X, PM Shehbaz congratulated the country on its “remarkable journey of progress and transformation” and reiterated Pakistan’s condemnation of the recent Houthi attacks on the country, in particular an attempted drone attack on Makkah. He held that threats to the security of the Haramain Sharifain “deeply wounds the sentiments of Muslims across the world”. “Pakistan stands unwaveringly, shoulder to shoulder, with the kingdom in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and the sanctity of Islam’s holiest sites,” PM Shehbaz stressed.

PM Shehbaz noted that under the “dynamic” leadership of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Saudi Arabia continues to make impressive strides towards greater prosperity, modernisation and innovation. The premier added that the brotherhood between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was “growing into an even stronger strategic partnership, underpinned by our shared commitment to peace, security and the unity of the Muslim Ummah”. “Together, we have proudly signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement and the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement ,” he added. Under the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed in Sept 2025, the two countries pledged that any attack on either nation would be treated as an act of aggression against both. Meanwhile, the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement — signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on August 7 — empowers member states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all. In his…