Riyadh: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement under which any act of aggression against either country will be treated as an attack on both. The deal, finalized during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh, was signed in the presence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking a significant strengthening of defense ties between the two nations.
According to the agreement, the two countries will deepen military cooperation, share intelligence, and enhance joint deterrence capabilities. Officials emphasized that the pact institutionalizes a long-standing defense relationship, framing it as a step towards ensuring regional stability rather than a response to a single incident.
The signing comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East following an Israeli airstrike in Doha, Qatar, which killed six people including Hamas leaders. Analysts suggest that Gulf states, increasingly uncertain about the reliability of U.S. security guarantees, are seeking new strategic partnerships to bolster their defense frameworks.
While the pact does not explicitly mention nuclear weapons, observers note that Pakistan’s status as a nuclear-armed state adds a new dimension to Saudi Arabia’s security calculus. Some experts interpret the agreement as a signal that Riyadh may look towards Pakistan as an additional layer of strategic assurance in extreme scenarios.
India reacted cautiously to the development, with officials stating that New Delhi would study the implications of the pact for its national security as well as for regional and global stability. Saudi Arabia, however, clarified that the agreement does not diminish its strong ties with India.
The pact is expected to have far-reaching consequences for the strategic balance in South Asia and the Middle East. It may prompt recalibrations by countries such as Iran, Israel, and other Gulf states, while also sending a diplomatic message to global powers about Saudi Arabia’s growing autonomy in shaping its defense policies.
Analysts point out that questions remain about the operational scope of the agreement, including how joint defense commitments will be implemented in practice and under what command structures. Nonetheless, the deal stands out as one of the most consequential defense arrangements in recent years, cementing a historic partnership between Islamabad and Riyadh at a time of shifting geopolitical alignments.