Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the defense agreement on Wednesday (17 September 2025), which has created a stir internationally. The timing of the agreement and the hidden messages behind it have caught the attention of experts. This step can prove to be important not only for the Gulf region but also for South Asia and global politics. The agreement came to light about ten days after the attack on Hamas leaders in Doha on 9 September. Experts believe that its timing is very symbolic. In this, it has been provided that an attack on any country, both will be considered as an attack.
Riyadh has described it as a comprehensive defensive agreement, including all military means. Confirming this, the Defense Minister of Pakistan said that Pakistan’s nuclear program will also come under the agreement. This is a big step because Pakistan is the only Muslim country with nuclear weapons.
Historical Defense Cooperation of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have long been based on security cooperation. During the Gulf War in the 1990s, Pakistan deployed 11,000 soldiers to protect the Saudi border and holy sites. Even today 1500-2000 Pakistani soldiers are present in Saudi Arabia. It is said that Pakistan’s nuclear program is said by Saudi Arabia with financial support. If this is true, the current agreement formalize that long relationship. According to Cristopher Clary Clary, Associate Professor and South Asia expert at Albani University, it means that any country who attacks Saudi Arabia will now have to take into account Pakistani nuclear capacity.
Benefits and challenges for Pakistan
The regional issue from the bilateral issue
Israel and International Response
Israel has also been alerted by this agreement. Experts believe that Pakistan can become a big challenge in the eyes of Israel in future. Israel has already targeted the nuclear programs of its enemy countries, so now the threat on the top scientists and nuclear structure of Pakistan may increase.

