Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a strategic defence pact on September 18, 2025, which implies that both nations would come to each other’s help if attacked by any enemy. It also includes nuclear attack/threat. It is noteworthy that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s aircraft was escorted and received with much fanfare. The reception was at the same level as was given to US President Donald Trump a few weeks ago. Soon after signing the pact, Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir will be going to the USA for the UNGA conference and meet President Trump on the sidelines.
This Saudi-Pakistan strategic mutual defence pact is much ado about nothing. Much attention given to it exposes its emptiness. It is the US way of making a mountain out of a molehill. Free lunch given to General Asim Munir at the White House by President Trump, a few weeks back, was not to allow the ‘strategic autonomy’ route to Pakistan. Free lunches are never free; they often end up as payment ‘in kind’. Therefore, my observations are:
First, I am doubtful if this deal has been arrived at without the approval of the USA. It is the same as saying that the USA did not know about Israel’s missile attack on Qatar. The missile attack was certainly launched with the approval of the USA, whose radars and A2/AD systems were deliberately switched off. We must know that the USA has the biggest military base in Doha. So, I doubt that both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the pact without US blessings.
US Central Command commander Admiral Brad Cooper was in Riyadh just as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the defence pact. Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with Admiral Cooper in Riyadh on September 16, 2025, to discuss defence cooperation and regional developments
Secondly, US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Admiral Brad Cooper was in Riyadh just as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the defence pact. The official Saudi press agency reported that Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with Admiral Cooper in Riyadh on September 16, 2025, to discuss defence cooperation and regional developments. It should clarify US involvement in this. Maybe the USA decided to check Israel’s high-handedness after the Doha attack by Israel.
Aside from this, we must not forget that Pakistan’s nukes were developed with Saudi-US help. Saudi Arabia provided them money, while the USA deliberately looked the other way. It was very much known that Ronald Reagan (POTUS 1981–1988) had closed his eyes when Pakistan was carrying out clandestine operations to build the bomb. It has been claimed by none other than a famous Pakistani author, Ayesha Siddiqui. So, it is a misleading idea that the USA did not know.
Operation Sindoor has established that Pakistan’s nukes were not under Pakistan’s control but the USA. The USA built the Nuclear Command shelter at Noor Khan air base, and there were allegedly around 150 US personnel who perished
Meanwhile, Operation Sindoor has established that Pakistan’s nukes were not under Pakistan’s control but the USA. The USA built the Nuclear Command shelter at Noor Khan air base, and there were allegedly around 150 US personnel who perished. Therefore, this notion of the USA not knowing is a misleading one and may be a cover-up to hide more sinister designs than reveal anything worthwhile.
Also, one must know that the threat to Saudi Arabia is more from Iran and the Houthis in Yemen than from Israel. In fact, Israel was Saudi Arabia’s silent supporter. Therefore, this strategic military defence agreement is aimed at Iran. The USA has indirectly provided this nuclear umbrella to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan, because it was the USA that controls the Pakistani nukes. In fact, the USA has sorted out two issues with this one deal. It has removed Saudi fears of Iranian nukes and helped cash-starved Pakistan to get guaranteed financial aid from Saudi Arabia. A very clever move. It was not for nothing that General Asim Munir was going again and again to the USA. His family has been provided with USA citizenship within days of applying for it in June 2025.
What’s more, this deal has created bigger differences between Pakistan and Iran, a staunch Saudi enemy. Also, Afghanistan would be affected. The Middle East would be further destabilised. Instability in the region helps the USA to rule the region.
With Pakistan now in the US lap, and Saudi Arabian dependence on the USA cemented, can China afford to leave Iran alone? This also must be seen in view of India’s tilt towards China. It is a silent move by the USA to unsettle the region, given the happenings in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka. An instability is deliberately created around India with China as the target.
One must remember that US supremacy or global dominance is subject to chaos and disorder around the world. The more chaos and conflicts, the more powerful it becomes, while its challengers remain busy with internal and regional chaos.
By the way, what defence can Pakistan provide to Saudi Arabia when it is unable to defend itself from the Afghan Taliban and BLA/BLF militants? Operation Sindoor exposed its nuclear claims. It is a psychological drama enacted with the connivance of the USA to widen the rift amongst the Islamic nations of the region
The question arises, how does it affect India? To me, it was a silver lining. It is a fallacy that India was dependent entirely on Saudi oil; Iran will open up now more freely. India can now get full control over the Chabahar port and access to Central Asia through Iran. India and Prime Minister Modi need not be influenced by the birthday wishes from Trump because he is fooling India while doing everything against Indian interests.
There is no threat to India from Saudi Arabia. Let us say, if an Indo-Pakistan war starts, what help will Saudi Arabia provide to Pakistan, other than monetary assistance? I personally feel that Saudi Arabia may have a sobering effect on sabre-rattling Pakistan.
Regarding Afghanistan, it is an opportunity for India to cultivate it and recognise the current Taliban regime. In times of war with Pakistan, it can be a second front.
I believe that recent meetings of the OIC and the Gulf Cooperation Council were an eyewash to fool Qatar. Have they taken any action against Israel? It was a drama; most of these countries have covert relations with Israel, and even Saudi Arabia has silent relations.
Finally, I therefore consider that this agreement is to totally wean away Pakistan from Iran and make China look askance at Pakistan. However, it provides a golden opportunity for India to consolidate itself in Afghanistan and recognise it, and make Chabahar port a gateway to Central Asia.
It is yet to be seen how this pact will come into effect if Afghanistan and Pakistan clash, or even when India and Pakistan go to war. Saudi Arabia has equally good relations with India. It recently honoured Prime Minister Modi with its highest national award. Hence, there are geopolitical roadblocks in its smooth implementation
By the way, what defence can Pakistan provide to Saudi Arabia when it is unable to defend itself from the Afghan Taliban and BLA/BLF militants? Operation Sindoor exposed its nuclear claims. It is a psychological drama enacted with the connivance of the USA to widen the rift amongst the Islamic nations of the region.
There is no substance in this pact. The USA will never allow Israel to strike Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this deal is basically against Saudi Arabia’s archenemy, Iran. It serves as a psychological assurance to Saudi Arabia, deterring Iran from acting against it. The question arises whether Pakistan will join Saudi Arabia in taking action against the Houthis of Yemen, who keep striking Saudi Arabia. Last time, during Nawaz Sharif’s tenure (2014-15), Pakistan refused to send the army to Yemen when requested by Saudi Arabia. What has changed now? It is a sell-out of Pakistan to the USA by General Asim Munir.
It is yet to be seen how this pact will come into effect if Afghanistan and Pakistan clash, or even when India and Pakistan go to war. Saudi Arabia has equally good relations with India. It had recently given the highest national award to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I, therefore, see a geopolitical roadblock in its smooth implementation.
-An ex-NDA and Wellington Staff College graduate, Col Rajinder Singh is a renowned author and security analyst. He has authored four books, two individually and two in collaboration. His best-selling books are Kashmir – A Different Perspective and The ULFA Insurgency. The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
