Riyadh-Islamabad Axis Redrawn: Saudi Arabia Signs Historic Mutual Defence Pact with Nuclear-Armed Pakistan

In a seismic shift across the geopolitical landscape, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have inked a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, pledging that any attack on one will be treated as an attack on both. The pact was signed in Riyadh by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, marking the most binding military alliance in the Islamic world to date .

• The agreement follows Israel’s recent strike on Qatar, triggering alarm across Gulf states.
• Saudi Arabia, long reliant on U.S. security guarantees, now aligns with Pakistan’s nuclear deterrence.
• The pact elevates Pakistan’s role as the primary Muslim military power, capable of shielding allies from regional aggression .
• Saudi landmarks lit up with Pakistani flags in celebration, signaling deep-rooted brotherhood and Islamic solidarity .

“Any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.” — Joint Statement

• Pakistan’s delegation included Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
• Saudi F-15 jets escorted PM Sharif’s aircraft into Riyadh airspace.
• A 21-gun salute and green crescent flags lined the capital’s streets .

India’s Foreign Ministry has acknowledged the pact, stating it will “study the implications for national security and regional stability.” Meanwhile, the U.S. and Israel have yet to respond .

This pact redefines the balance of power in the Middle East and South Asia. It signals a pivot away from Western-led security frameworks toward Islamic strategic autonomy, with Pakistan’s nuclear umbrella now extending to the Gulf.