Last week, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement that has sent ripples across the region, marking a new chapter in their already close relationship. This formal pact, inked in mid-September 2025, transforms decades of informal security ties into a written commitment: an attack on one will be treated as an attack on both. While the move cements old friendships, it has also unleashed a torrent of questions about nuclear guarantees, shifting alliances, and the future of South and West Asian geopolitics.
For many, the partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is nothing new. According to The Hindu, Pakistani troops have been stationed in Saudi Arabia since the 1960s, guarding the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, training Saudi pilots, and even protecting royal palaces. At one point, an entire Pakistani division was deployed on Saudi soil. In return, Saudi Arabia provided crucial financial support, especially during times when Pakistan’s economy was reeling under international sanctions. Many observers believe this support was instrumental in helping Pakistan develop its nuclear program.
Despite this deep-rooted cooperation, the relationship had always stopped short of a formal defense treaty. Even in 2015, when Saudi Arabia sought Pakistani military assistance in Yemen, Islamabad’s parliament refused, drawing a clear line in the sand. But that line appears to have faded. The new pact erases many of the previous limits, binding the two nations more closely than ever before.
For Pakistan, the timing couldn’t be more opportune. Since Operation Sindoor in May 2025, Islamabad has been deftly juggling its relationships with major powers. It remains China’s “all-weather friend,” has been mending fences with Washington, and even Russia has expressed interest through energy talks and military exchanges. This new agreement with Saudi Arabia catapults Pakistan from a regional South Asian player to a significant pillar in West Asian security.
Not only does this bring prestige and visibility, but it also opens the door to much-needed Saudi financial support for Pakistan’s strained economy. At home, the narrative is powerful: Pakistan is the guardian of Islam’s sacred heartland. This notion, carefully cultivated by successive governments, resonates deeply with the public. The treaty seems to validate Pakistan’s claim as a protector of the Muslim world.
On the Saudi side, the motivations are equally clear. For decades, Riyadh relied on American muscle to shield it from regional threats. But with Washington’s attention increasingly drawn to Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific, Saudi Arabia has been left feeling exposed. The region has been rattled by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, Syria, Iran, and Qatar, and Iran’s proxies—especially the Houthis in Yemen—have demonstrated their capacity to disrupt Saudi oil facilities with just a handful of drones. These events, as reported by The Hindu, have pushed Riyadh to seek new security guarantees.
By signing a pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan, Saudi Arabia gains both prestige and, at least in theory, a nuclear umbrella. While it’s highly unlikely that Islamabad would risk its own survival by launching nuclear weapons on Saudi Arabia’s behalf, the ambiguity itself is powerful. As one analyst put it, “Keeping adversaries guessing raises the cost of aggression.” The mere uncertainty over whether Pakistan might act is enough to give pause to potential aggressors.
Still, many experts remain skeptical about the credibility of such a guarantee. Would Pakistan truly go so far as to risk nuclear confrontation for Saudi Arabia? Probably not. Yet, the symbolism of the pact—its ambiguity and the questions it raises—may be its greatest strength. It muddies the waters just enough to provide breathing space for both nations.
There are risks, however. The agreement signals a willingness on Pakistan’s part to step into conflicts that previously did not directly concern it. Until now, its role was largely confined to guarding holy sites and training Saudi forces. The new pact could see Pakistan drawn into Saudi feuds with Iran, or even into confrontations with Israel. Pakistani officials have already hinted that other Gulf monarchies are exploring similar deals, which could mean more money and influence—but also the danger of being entangled in wars far from home, at a time when Pakistan’s own domestic situation is anything but stable.
The global powers are watching closely. The United States, for its part, has not raised objections. In fact, some analysts suggest that Washington may quietly approve, seeing the arrangement as a way to keep Saudi Arabia from seeking its own nuclear weapons or relying too heavily on Russia or China. As long as Pakistan’s involvement doesn’t destabilize Israel, the U.S. may see it as subcontracting deterrence in a way that suits American interests.
China’s reaction is more nuanced. While Beijing is Pakistan’s closest ally and is building strong ties with Riyadh, it was also the architect of the 2023 reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran. A pact that appears openly hostile to Tehran could jeopardize that achievement. China’s silence on the matter, as noted in The Hindu, suggests a careful hedging of bets.
For India, the agreement is deeply unsettling. Pakistan’s defense minister has openly stated that the country’s “nuclear capabilities” are now tied to Saudi Arabia’s defense. This is the first time Islamabad has explicitly discussed extending its nuclear deterrence beyond its own borders. While Saudi Arabia’s past funding of Pakistan’s nuclear program has long been an open secret, the link is now out in the open. Indian officials, at least publicly, have maintained a calm front, saying the pact was expected and that they will “study its implications.” But beneath the surface, there is clear disappointment. Just as New Delhi believed it was drawing closer to Riyadh, the kingdom has chosen to align itself firmly with Pakistan on core security issues.
Geopolitically, the agreement blurs the lines between South Asia and West Asia. Conflicts and alliances now cut across regions, linking Islamabad and Riyadh in ways that complicate India’s western frontier and nuclear equation. As The Hindu observes, the pact injects Riyadh into every confrontation between India and Pakistan, adding a new layer of complexity to an already volatile region.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has redrawn the map of regional power. It brings prestige, uncertainty, and new risks for both nations, while leaving neighbors and global powers alike rethinking their next moves. The boundaries between South Asia and West Asia are fading, and with them, the certainties of the past.