BS EDIT: Saudi-Pakistan Pact: Strategic Ripples

By Business StandardPublished On Sep 22, 2025

A Pact Years in the Making

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have long shared military ties. Their new formal pact signals a more visible and assertive alignment on security

The Nuclear Subtext

Pakistan’s offer to extend its nuclear umbrella to Saudi Arabia revives older understandings and hints at Riyadh’s growing anxiety

Fallout from Qatar Bombing

The pact follows Israel’s strike on Qatar and reflects Saudi doubts about US security commitments in a shifting regional landscape

Riyadh’s Deterrence Calculus

Surrounded by new threats, Saudi Arabia is seeking broader deterrence options, and Pakistan appears central to that evolving strategy

Strategic Impact on India

Though not aimed at India, the pact may embolden Pakistan and shift regional perceptions, complicating India’s strategic standing

India’s Diplomatic Challenge

India must recalibrate its “Look West” policy, balancing key relationships as regional alliances evolve in unpredictable ways