Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have entered into a landmark Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in Riyadh, declaring that any attack on either country will be treated as an attack on both. The pact was signed during the state visit of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and marks a deepening of military cooperation between the two nations. The agreement reportedly extends beyond conventional defence collaboration, with media reports suggesting that Saudi Arabia could also gain access to Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal under its framework.
According to a statement released by the Saudi Press Agency, the accord is intended to enhance defence cooperation, strengthen deterrence, and ensure joint responses against any form of aggression. The announcement comes shortly after a summit in Doha where 40 Islamic nations, including Pakistan, discussed forming a NATO-style security alliance in response to Israel’s recent strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar. This has raised regional and global concerns, particularly given that Pakistan remains the only Islamic nation to possess nuclear weapons.
India has responded cautiously to the development, with the Ministry of External Affairs affirming that it is closely monitoring the situation. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi will study the implications of the pact for both national security and regional stability, while reiterating that the government remains committed to ensuring “comprehensive national security in all domains.” He also acknowledged that discussions between Riyadh and Islamabad on such a pact had been underway for some time and that the deal largely formalises a long-standing defence arrangement.
The defence agreement acquires greater significance in the current climate of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, especially after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Against this backdrop, the growing military alignment between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is likely to reshape strategic calculations in South Asia and the wider Middle East.
