India Monitors Saudi-Pakistan Pact, Vows to Safeguard National Interests
MEA says New Delhi will study implications of the mutual defence agreement on national, regional, and global stability.
India will closely examine the implications of the newly signed strategic mutual defence pact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for its national security and broader regional stability, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated on Thursday. The agreement, formalised on September 17 in Riyadh, declares any aggression against one signatory as an attack on both, potentially reshaping alliances in a volatile South Asian and Middle Eastern landscape. This comes just over four months after a brief but intense military conflict between India and Pakistan, underscoring heightened sensitivities along the Line of Control.
The "Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement" was inked by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during Sharif's state visit to Saudi Arabia, building on nearly eight decades of military and economic ties between the two nations. A joint statement emphasised shared strategic interests and Islamic solidarity, with a senior Saudi official describing it as a "comprehensive defensive agreement encompassing all military means," amid speculation over Pakistan's potential nuclear umbrella for Riyadh.
The pact arrives against a backdrop of regional tensions, including Israel's recent strikes on Hamas leaders in Qatar and Gulf states' growing wariness of U.S. security guarantees, prompting Saudi Arabia to diversify partnerships beyond traditional Western allies.
Jaiswal, responding to media queries, noted that New Delhi was aware of the pact's progression, as it formalises longstanding arrangements. "We have seen reports of the signing of a strategic mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan," he said, adding that the government remains committed to safeguarding India's interests across all domains.
The measured tone reflects India's diplomatic caution, especially following the April-May 2025 conflict triggered by a terrorist attack near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 civilians, mostly Indian tourists. India responded with Operation Sindoor, launching missile and air strikes on nine sites in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Punjab province, leading to four days of hostilities before a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on May 10.
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The timing of the Saudi-Pakistan deal has amplified concerns in New Delhi, given Riyadh's historical role as a mediator in India-Pakistan disputes and its balancing act between the nuclear-armed rivals. While Saudi Arabia maintains strong economic ties with India—bilateral trade exceeded $50 billion in 2024—the pact could complicate regional dynamics, particularly if invoked in future Indo-Pak escalations.
Analysts suggest it may embolden Pakistan amid ongoing Kashmir tensions, though both nations have reaffirmed commitments to bilateral resolutions under the 1972 Simla Agreement. As India studies the pact's ramifications, Jaiswal's remarks signal a proactive stance on comprehensive security, including cyber and space domains, in an era of fluid alliances.
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