What foreign analysts have to say about Pak-Saudi defence deal
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark defence agreement, marking the most significant upgrade in bilateral military ties in decades.
The pact was announced on Wednesday during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Riyadh, with a joint statement emphasising that the deal "reflects the shared commitment of both nations to enhance their security and to achieve security and peace in the region and the world."
The agreement seeks to develop defence cooperation and strengthen joint deterrence, with a key principle stating that "any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both."
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The two nations have long maintained a multifaceted relationship rooted in strategic military cooperation, mutual economic interests, and shared Islamic heritage.
Observers note that the deal comes in the wake of Israel's recent strike on Qatar, heightening concerns over Middle Eastern security.
Former envoy Maleeha Lodhi described the agreement as a "significant development" with "far-reaching implications" for both countries.
Speaking to Geo News, she said, "Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been engaged in defence cooperation for a long time, and their diplomatic relations have always remained strong; however, with this agreement, the relationship has been shifted to a qualitatively different place."
Lodhi added that Pakistan has assumed the role of a security provider "not just for Saudi Arabia but for the Middle East," and noted the timing was significant given questions over the United States' credibility as a security guarantor.
On India, she cautioned, "It is clear that if Pakistan continues to strengthen its defence like this, its opponent cannot be happy about it, but we have to wait and see what sort of reaction will come from India."
South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman commented that Pakistan now finds itself "in a very good place," with China, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia fully supportive.
Former Senator Mushahid Hussain hailed the agreement as "the single most important military and diplomatic initiative in the past 50 years" and observed that "Saudi Arabia is not just any Muslim country but one of the richest countries in the world, with a strong diplomatic influence."
He added that the pact could act as a deterrent to Israel and bolster Pakistan's role as a regional security guarantor.
Analysts Hussain Haqani and Uzair Younus highlighted the strategic nature of the deal, noting its potential implications for nuclear and missile defence, as well as Pakistan's status as a net security provider in the Arabian Peninsula.
Journalist Iftikhar Firdous described the pact as "symbolically powerful and strategically consequential," granting Saudi Arabia a de facto nuclear umbrella and signalling its hedging against uncertainty, though warning that the move may escalate regional tensions.
