Straight Talk | Pakistan And Saudi Arabia’s Mutual Defence Pact Fails Its First Test

Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra

The collapse of the Pakistan-Saudi mutual defence pact offers a useful reminder about the difference between agreements and commitments

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia announced their Strategic “Mutual Defence Agreement" with considerable pomp and grandeur at Riyadh’s Al-Yamamah Palace in September 2025. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Shehbaz Sharif signed the pact, declaring that any aggression against one country would be considered aggression against both. The joint statement spoke of “historic partnership" and “shared strategic interests". Officials briefed reporters about deterrence, collective security and regional stability.

Five months on, that agreement has faced its first real tests. Both signatories found themselves under fire. Neither lifted a finger to help the other. The pact, it turned out, worked beautifully on paper. Reality proved that the agreement actually lies in tatters.

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According to News18’s Manoj Gupta, Pakistan has shipped a few air defence missiles to Saudi Arabia, but that is just about it. And we all know very well just how “effective" Pakistan air defences were during Operation Sindoor. One cannot help but say, best of luck to Saudi Arabia.

The First Test: Taliban Knocks On Pakistan’s Door

Pakistan spent February locked in escalating confrontation with Afghanistan’s Taliban regime. On February 21, Pakistani jets hit multiple sites across Nangarhar, Paktika and Khost provinces, targeting camps belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Islamic State-Khorasan. Islamabad called them “intelligence-based, selective operations." Kabul called them violations of sovereignty and claimed civilian casualties, including women and children.

Five days later, the Taliban struck back. Afghan forces launched attacks on Pakistani military posts along the 2,600-kilometre Durand Line border on February 26. Pakistan’s information ministry announced “retribution" operations in Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors. By February 27, both sides traded fire, claimed victories and reported casualties on the other side. Pakistan faced coordinated military assault from a hostile neighbour. In fact, more recent inputs suggest Pakistani soldiers were beheaded by the Afghans at one of the posts run over by the Taliban.

Riyadh’s response to all this? Radio silence. No stern statements. No........

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