Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Ink Mutual Defence Pact

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a new strategic defence agreement on Wednesday, pledging that an attack on either country would be treated as “an aggression against both”.

The pact comes just days after an Israeli strike in neighbouring Qatar targeted Hamas leaders, sending shock waves across Gulf states long dependent on the United States for security.

A statement published by the Saudi Press Agency read:

“This agreement aims to develop aspects of defence cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression. The agreement states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”

The deal was formally signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The pact is being signed just months after Pakistan and India fought an intense four-day conflict in May, resulting in more than 70 fatalities on both sides from missile, drone, and artillery fire. These were the worst clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbours since 1999.

During the crisis, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was visiting Saudi Arabia in April, cut short his trip following a deadly shooting attack on Indian tourists, which triggered the conflict.

Both India and Pakistan, as nuclear powers, have long accused each other of supporting militant groups to destabilise the other. Saudi Arabia is believed to have played a key role in defusing the recent conflict.

Saudi Arabia has historically maintained close ties with both countries:

• Oil Supplier to India: Saudi Arabia has been a major supplier of petroleum to India, the world’s most populous nation, and is currently India’s third-largest oil supplier, according to the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Economic Support to Pakistan: Islamabad has fostered strong links with Riyadh for decades. Over 2.5 million Pakistanis live and work in Saudi Arabia, and the kingdom has long provided economic assistance to bolster Pakistan’s struggling economy.

Key Facts at a Glance

The mutual defence agreement underscores a shared commitment to regional security and deterrence, while also highlighting economic interdependence and longstanding strategic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.