Pakistan, Saudi Arabia sign key defence deal: ‘Attack on one, aggression against both’

By Admin

18 Sep, 2025

In a major geopolitical development, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday signed a landmark defence pact that underscores a new level of military cooperation between the two nations. The “Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement”, signed in Riyadh by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, declares that an attack on either nation will be treated as “an aggression against both.”

Strengthening Defence Ties

The agreement was finalized during PM Sharif’s official visit to Saudi Arabia, made at the invitation of the Crown Prince. According to a statement released by the Saudi Press Agency, the pact is aimed at “developing aspects of defence cooperation between the two countries and strengthening joint deterrence against any aggression.”

Sharif described the agreement as a step towards deeper strategic alignment between the two long-standing allies, while Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized the importance of joint security in a volatile regional landscape.

Timing Amid Regional Tensions

The signing comes just days after an Israeli air strike targeted senior Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar’s capital, killing six people. The attack, condemned by Qatar as “state terrorism,” has heightened regional tensions. Israel, however, defended the strike, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stating it was a “wholly independent Israeli operation” targeting Hamas leaders.

The US, traditionally a security partner for Gulf nations, distanced itself from the incident, with President Donald Trump clarifying that Washington was not informed in advance. This growing uncertainty about American engagement in the region has pushed Middle Eastern countries to explore new defence alignments.

India-Pakistan Context

The pact also comes just months after a four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan, triggered by Operation Sindoor – an Indian military retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. That conflict ended after Pakistan’s Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO) sought a ceasefire with his Indian counterpart.

Given this background, India is closely watching the Saudi-Pakistan pact. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was aware of the agreement under discussion and will “study the implications” of this formalized defence cooperation.

Parallel Developments

Interestingly, Qatar and the United States are also moving towards finalizing an enhanced defence cooperation agreement, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This indicates shifting security alignments across the Gulf, particularly after Israel’s unilateral action in Doha.

Geopolitical Implications

The Saudi-Pakistan defence pact marks a significant moment in regional security architecture. Both countries, already bound by historical, religious, and economic ties, are now moving into a deeper military partnership. Analysts suggest that this agreement could:

• Strengthen Pakistan’s strategic relevance in the Gulf.
  
  

• Provide Saudi Arabia an additional layer of deterrence amid regional instability.
  
  

• Potentially reshape the balance of power in South Asia and the Middle East.
  
  

Conclusion

As tensions escalate in the Middle East following Israel’s controversial strike in Doha, and with India-Pakistan relations still fragile, the Saudi-Pakistan defence agreement signals a new security equation in the region. While hailed by both governments as a necessary step for stability, its broader consequences will unfold in the coming months   especially as other key players like India, Qatar, the US, and Israel adapt their strategies to the changing landscape.