Published on: September 21, 2025

SAUDI ARABIA AND PAKISTAN SIGN DEFENCE PACT

SAUDI ARABIA AND PAKISTAN SIGN DEFENCE PACT

NEWS

  • Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have formally signed a mutual defence agreement.
  • The pact includes a key clause: “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”
  • India stated it will study the implications for national security and regional stability, reaffirming its commitment to protecting national interests.

HIGHLIGHTS

Key Highlights of the Pact

  • Signed by Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir was present.
  • Represents Pakistan’s most significant formal defence commitment in decades.
  • Seen as a response to US retrenchment from the region and rising geopolitical tensions following Israel’s strike in Qatar.

Historical Military Cooperation

  • Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have a long history of military collaboration:
    • Pakistani troops deployed in Saudi Arabia in the late 1960s during Yemen conflicts.
    • Pakistan’s special forces helped during the 1979 Grand Mosque seizure in Mecca.
    • Former Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif led Saudi-led anti-terror operations in 2017.

Strategic and Economic Implications for Pakistan

  • Pact secures vital Saudi investment and funding amid fiscal challenges.
  • Reinforces Pakistan’s role as a pan-Islamic security provider.

India-Saudi Relations

  • Saudi Arabia is India’s fifth largest trading partner; India is Saudi Arabia’s second largest trading partner.
  • Bilateral trade in FY 2023-24: USD 42.98 billion (India’s exports: USD 11.56 billion; imports: USD 31.42 billion).
  • Strategic milestones include the Delhi Declaration (2006) and Riyadh Declaration (2010).
  • Recent military cooperation: SADA-TANSEEQ exercise (Jan-Feb 2024) in Rajasthan.
  • Indian investments in Saudi Arabia: USD 3 billion, Saudi investment in India: USD 10 billion.

Implications for India

  • India remains cautious due to regional security dynamics, Pakistan’s deep ties with Saudi Arabia, and potential shifts in Gulf geopolitics.
  • India has been kept in the loop by Riyadh, maintaining diplomatic engagement despite the new defence alignment.