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Introduction

The Saudi Arabia-Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) of September 2025 reflects Riyadh’s search for alternative security partners amid eroding U.S. credibility and regional turbulence, including the Israeli strike on Doha. While Pakistan seeks financial and strategic leverage, the pact raises critical strategic and security concerns for India’s Gulf interests.

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Circumstances that led to the recent defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan

• Historical defence cooperation: Saudi-Pakistani defence ties date back to 1951, peaking during 1979-89 with 20,000 Pakistani troops stationed in Saudi Arabia.
  Eg: Pakistan guarded the Holy Harams and acted as a bulwark against Iran and Yemen during this period.
• U.S. mediation and involvement: The Pentagon’s role has been central to their cooperation. Recent developments suggest U.S. encouragement in shaping the pact.
  
• Saudi insecurity after Israeli actions: The  Israeli air strike on Hamas’s office in Doha raised doubts about U.S. security guarantees to GCC states.
  Eg: U.S. failure to defend Qatar, despite its defence pact, pushed Riyadh toward diversifying security partners.
• Need for balancing threats from Iran: Saudi Arabia faces long-term threats from Iran and its proxies, compelling it to rely on Pakistan as a Muslim-majority nuclear state.

Strategic concerns this pact poses for India and its regional interests

• Pakistan’s leverage in the Gulf: The pact may give Pakistan strategic influence over Saudi defence policies, undermining India’s diplomatic gains.
• China factor in Pakistan-Saudi ties: Pakistan’s close ties with China could extend Chinese influence into West Asia through the pact.
• Diversion of Saudi investments: Saudi financial commitments to Pakistan’s economy could compete with its promised $100 billion investment in India.
• Regional balancing challenges: The pact allows Saudi Arabia to balance relations with Pakistan and India, but Islamabad could exploit this for diplomatic mileage.
• Potential nuclear implications: Pakistan’s nuclear status raises fears of a nuclear security dimension creeping into Saudi-Pakistani defence ties.

Security concerns this pact poses for India and its regional interests

• Strengthening Pakistan’s military capability: The pact may allow Pakistan to train on advanced Saudi and U.S. equipment, upgrading its capabilities.
  Eg: Islamabad seeks to exploit Saudi insecurity to gain defence hardware and operational experience, which could affect India’s security balance.
• Funding Pakistan’s weak economy: Saudi aid, oil supplies, and funds could rescue Pakistan’s economy, indirectly sustaining its military posture against India.
  Eg: Islamabad expects “large dollops of Saudi funds” under the pact, giving it breathing space in its rivalry with India.
• Indirect support for Pakistan’s anti-India stance: By underwriting Pakistan’s strategic disadvantage, the pact could embolden their military establishment.
• Cross-border spillovers of instability: If Pakistan is drawn deeper into conflicts with Iran or Yemen, spillovers could destabilize South Asia indirectly.
• Increased need for Indian vigilance: The pact underscores India’s need to enhance maritime and energy security in West Asia.
  

Conclusion

The Saudi-Pakistan defence pact highlights Riyadh’s shift towards new security alignments and Islamabad’s pursuit of financial and strategic gains. For India, it raises strategic and security risks, making it essential to strengthen defence cooperation, energy security, and regional diplomacy to protect its vital Gulf interests and balance emerging geopolitical challenges.

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