Islamabad/Riyadh: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday signed a landmark mutual defence pact, pledging that any attack on one would be considered an aggression against both. The deal, announced just days after an Israeli strike targeted Hamas leaders in neighbouring Qatar, has sent ripples across the Gulf states, many of which have traditionally depended on the United States for their security.
The agreement was signed in Riyadh by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Strengthening joint deterrence
According to a statement released by the Saudi Press Agency, the pact aims “to develop aspects of defence cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression.”
The declaration underscores a shift in regional defence alignments, as Riyadh and Islamabad move to deepen their strategic cooperation against emerging security threats in the Middle East.
Regional context
The timing of the agreement is significant. It comes months after Pakistan and India engaged in a four-day conflict in May, the worst military confrontation between the nuclear-armed rivals since 1999. The clashes left more than 70 people dead in missile, drone, and artillery fire.
Saudi Arabia played a quiet but crucial role in diffusing that crisis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was visiting Riyadh in April, had cut short his trip after a deadly shooting attack on tourists in India triggered the escalation.
Long-standing ties
Saudi Arabia has long maintained close economic and political relations with Pakistan. More than 2.5 million Pakistanis live and work in the kingdom, while Riyadh has frequently stepped in with financial assistance to stabilise Pakistan’s struggling economy.
For Saudi Arabia, the defence pact marks another step in diversifying its security partnerships, while for Pakistan it signals both reassurance and renewed leverage at a time of heightened regional uncertainty.