Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have officially signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, which states that any aggression against one country will be treated as aggression against both nations. The agreement, signed in Riyadh, takes their long-standing military cooperation to a legally binding level of security cooperation. Although Pakistan publicly declared it was a sign of “Islamic solidarity”, the agreement has larger regional ramifications, especially for India.
India has responded with measured caution. The Ministry of External Affairs it was previously aware of the development and closely monitoring it for implications to regional stability. India indicated that its national security interests are on top priority and would be protected.
The timing of this agreement is notable, just months after tensions had elevated and a limited conflict had occurred between India and Pakistan in May 2025. Analysts caution that the agreement may incentivize Islamabad, but India still expects Riyadh to hold a balancing role given the strong economic and investment ties it has with New Delhi.
India’s stance reflects a clear priority: maintaining regional stability while remaining strategically vigilant against any moves that threaten its security.
