Saudi Arabia and Pakistan ink historic defence pact: Signals unified response against attacks

Digital Desk

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan solidified a landmark defence agreement on Wednesday, pledging that any attack on one nation will be considered an attack on both. The pact, signed in Riyadh by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, underscores deepening military ties and shared security commitments between Riyadh and Islamabad.

At the signing ceremony, hosted by the Saudi Press Agency, MBS embraced Shahbaz Sharif as Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir and senior ministers Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, and Mohammad Aurangzeb looked on. The joint statement emphasised mutual dedication to bolster regional security, pursue global peace, and explore advanced defence cooperation.

Reports indicate the agreement may extend to include Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal in collective defence scenarios. Reuters cited former US diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad, who noted that although the pact is not a formal treaty, its strategic implications rival those of established alliances. Speculation persists about undisclosed clauses that could reduce Saudi reliance on US security guarantees.

This defence pact follows a closed-door summit of Islamic leaders in Doha on September 14, convened after Israel’s September 9 strike on Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya. During the meeting, Pakistan proposed a NATO-style joint force for Muslim-majority countries, with Deputy PM Ishaq Dar vowing Pakistan’s nuclear-armed readiness to “fulfil its responsibility towards the Ummah.”

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that New Delhi was monitoring the pact’s implications for regional stability and India’s national security. “India remains fully committed to safeguarding its interests,” he asserted.

Analysts draw parallels with Pakistan’s 1954 Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement with the United States, which later expanded through SEATO and CENTO. Although these Cold War-era alliances provided Islamabad with military aid exceeding Rs.7 trillion, US intervention was withheld during the 1947, 1965, and 1971 Indo-Pak conflicts. CENTO collapsed in 1979 amid geopolitical shifts, and Pakistan’s formal US defence framework was never reinstated.

Experts view the Saudi Pakistan pact as a formal recognition of existing ties, possibly aimed at countering regional threats and leveraging Pakistan’s nuclear capability. As the agreement takes effect, both nations signal a unified front to deter aggression and defend shared interests.