Mar 13, 2026 16:46 pm IST

Opinion | What Happens If Saudi Arabia Really 'Asks' Pakistan To Go To War?

Since the beginning of the Iran-Israel war, questions have been raised about what role Pakistan would play on the side of the Saudis. The answer is getting murkier.

Sushant Sareen Sushant Sareen

When Pakistan signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in September last, its military-controlled regime never imagined that this agreement would soon become so onerous. Pakistani generals and politicians had convinced themselves and their public that Saudis would shower Pakistan with money and, in return, Pakistan would guarantee Saudi security while expanding its own political and diplomatic influence all over the Middle East. The way the Pakistanis sold this deal was that it was a recognition of their military prowess and that it was primarily directed against Israel, which had carried out an airstrike in Doha just days before Pakistan and Saudis signed the SMDA. There was some talk of Pakistan giving Saudi Arabia security assistance against the Houthis and other para-state and state actors.

The Pakistanis, however, never imagined that their 'rent-for-hire' security services would be requisitioned against Iran. This was because Saudi Arabia and Iran were steadily improving their relations and putting their bitter rivalry, even enmity, aside. But Pakistan's too-clever-by-half calculations have caught them in a bind between the US-Israeli Operation Epic Fury (and Lion's Roar) on one side, and on the other, Iran's Operation Fatah Khyber. With Iran targeting Saudi Arabia among other Arab Gulf states that are allies of the US, Pakistan fears being called upon to fulfil its SMDA obligations towards Saudi Arabia, something it is reluctant to do because of its larger and long-term repercussions for Pakistan's own stability and security.

Since the beginning of the conflict, questions have........

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