Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has made headlines with conflicting statements regarding the country’s nuclear capabilities in relation to Saudi Arabia following a newly signed defense pact. Initially, Asif implied that Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent could be extended to Saudi Arabia, emphasizing a mutual defense agreement where an attack on one would be seen as an attack on both. However, he later retracted this notion in conversations with Reuters, asserting that nuclear weapons were not part of the accord and labeling the situation as “evolving.” This ambiguity continues to raise concerns regarding the potential for nuclear proliferation amid deepening security ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has expressed that it will monitor the implications of this agreement closely, highlighting its significance in the context of regional stability and security dynamics, particularly given India’s ongoing tensions with Pakistan. This development underscores the precarious balance Pakistan must maintain between bolstering its strategic partnerships and mitigating international concerns over nuclear proliferation while navigating the complex geopolitical landscape of South Asia and the Gulf.