The relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has long been described as “brotherly,” a bond that rests on shared faith, overlapping strategic interests, and decades of cooperation across economics, politics, and the military.

Yesterday, that partnership took a dramatic leap forward when Riyadh and Islamabad signed a formal mutual defence pact, pledging that any act of aggression against one will be treated as an attack on both.

The agreement, signed in Riyadh by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marks the first time the two countries have codified their security relationship in such explicit terms.

The pact states that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both,” underscoring a new level of joint deterrence amid a volatile regional environment reshaped by the Gaza war and shifting Gulf security priorities.

Televised images of Sharif and the crown prince embracing were accompanied by a conspicuous show of military symbolism — Saudi F-15 fighter jets escorting the Pakistani leader’s aircraft as it entered the kingdom’s airspace. Pakistan’s powerful army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was also present, underscoring the military dimension of the new pact.

A Brotherhood Forged in Religion and Crisis

The Saudi-Pakistani bond is unlike most bilateral relationships. Rooted in Islam and history, it is sustained by a shared sense of religious destiny.

For Pakistanis, Saudi Arabia is not only a political partner but the spiritual center of their faith, home to Mecca and Medina, Islam’s holiest sites. Millions of Pakistanis travel for Hajj and Umrah each year, deepening a connection that is emotional as much as it is geopolitical.

That religious connection has been reinforced by repeated acts of solidarity in times of crisis. When Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in 1998 and faced crushing international sanctions, Saudi Arabia provided oil subsidies and grants that kept its economy afloat. In 2018, Riyadh extended a $6 billion bailout package during another financial crisis, offering deferred oil payments and cash support that helped Pakistan avert default.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are also leading members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and Riyadh has historically stood by Islamabad in its wars with India.

During the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia was one of Pakistan’s most outspoken backers. In the 1980s, the two countries worked in lockstep to funnel support to Afghan mujahideen fighting Soviet forces.

During the 1990–91 Gulf War, Pakistan deployed troops to protect Saudi Arabia’s holy sites, though tensions arose when some Pakistani leaders expressed sympathy for Saddam Hussein. Along with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were the only countries to recognize the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in the 1990s.

Saudi support was especially visible in 1998 when Nawaz Sharif secretly took Riyadh into confidence about Pakistan’s decision to test nuclear weapons. After the Chagai-I and Chagai-II nuclear tests, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were the only states to openly back Pakistan, even pledging to provide 50,000 barrels per day of free oil to cushion the blow of looming sanctions. These moments of alignment cemented the perception of an unshakable brotherhood that transcended ordinary diplomacy.

On the global stage, Saudi Arabia has often sided with Pakistan on key issues, including Kashmir, using its influence within the OIC to lend weight to Islamabad’s position against India. In return, Pakistan has lent its military expertise to Saudi Arabia for decades, stationing officers, training Saudi troops, and even deploying soldiers to the kingdom during the Gulf War to help defend against potential Iraqi aggression.

A Changing Strategic Map

The timing of this pact reflects the anxieties of the present moment. Gulf monarchies, once reliant on the United States as their primary security guarantor, have grown uneasy about Washington’s reliability. Those fears intensified after Israel’s airstrikes on Qatar last week, which Arab leaders interpreted as a dangerous precedent of unchecked aggression in the Gulf. Against this backdrop, Saudi officials were careful to frame the defense agreement with Pakistan not as a reaction to a single incident, but as the culmination of years of discussions. Still, the Gaza war and regional instability have clearly accelerated the urgency to institutionalize security ties.

One question that looms large is whether Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities are implicitly part of this pact. Asked about a potential “nuclear umbrella,” a senior Saudi official described the agreement as a “comprehensive defensive arrangement that encompasses all military means,” leaving room for speculation about what that might entail.

At the same time, Riyadh acknowledged its balancing act with India — Pakistan’s nuclear-armed rival. Saudi officials insisted that ties with New Delhi remain “robust” and will continue to grow even as defense integration with Islamabad deepens.

Expanding Military Cooperation

Beyond mutual defense, the pact envisions joint research and development of military aircraft and equipment. Plans are already underway for co-production of drones, missiles, fighter jets, and armored vehicles. For Pakistan’s defense industry, this offers a chance to expand beyond its traditional markets, while Saudi Arabia gains a partner to help advance Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s push for defense self-sufficiency under Vision 2030.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have conducted joint drills for decades, but institutionalizing R&D cooperation suggests a shift from episodic exercises to long-term industrial collaboration.

Symbolism beyond Security

The defence pact coincided with Saudi Arabia’s decision to lift a temporary suspension of short-term visas — including tourist, family, and Umrah visas — for citizens of Pakistan and 13 other countries. The pause, imposed ahead of Hajj 2025 to manage unauthorized pilgrimages and deadly overcrowding, had frustrated many. Its lifting restores the flow of pilgrims and visitors, underscoring the religious lifeline between the two nations.

However, Riyadh has kept in place a ban on Block Work Visas for these same countries, citing concerns about illegal immigration and visa abuse, as well as the kingdom’s efforts to promote domestic employment.

Brotherhood into the Future

For Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, the new defense pact is both a continuation and an escalation of their historic relationship. It symbolizes trust forged over decades — from financial rescues to battlefield cooperation — while recognizing the urgent need for new security frameworks in a region shaken by war, famine, and shifting alliances.

Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman summed up the symbolism in a message posted to X: “KSA and Pakistan… one front against any aggressor… always and forever.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underscored the warmth of this partnership in his own words on X: “Deeply touched by the heart warming welcome, accorded to me by my dear brother HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, on my official visit to Riyadh. From the unprecedented escort provided to my aircraft by the Royal Saudi airforce jets to the smartly turned out guard of the Saudi Armed Forces, this welcome reception speaks volumes about the abiding love and mutual respect between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. My most cordial talks today with HRH the Crown Prince, covered a wide range of issues, reviewing regional challenges & enhancing bilateral cooperation. I deeply admire HRH’s vision & leadership that he provides to the Muslim world. On the bilateral front, I greatly value HRH’s consistent support & his keen interest in expanding Saudi investments, trade and business ties between our two countries. It is my fervent prayer that Pakistan – Saudi Arabia’s friendship continues to flourish and attain new heights of glory. Inshallah!”

For Pakistan, still reeling from political turbulence and economic fragility, the pact delivers both reassurance and leverage. For Saudi Arabia, it secures the backing of the Muslim world’s only nuclear-armed state. Together, they are sending a message: their brotherhood is not just historic, but strategic, and it is being recalibrated for a new era of regional uncertainty.

With three key powers — China, Turkey, and now Saudi Arabia — firmly on Pakistan’s side, Islamabad finds itself in a stronger strategic position than it has enjoyed in decades.