New Delhi has broken its silence on the Saudi Arabia&ndash;Pakistan strategic defence pact, cautioning that the agreement&rsquo;s implications will be carefully studied for both India&rsquo;s national security and broader regional stability.
&ldquo;We have seen reports of the signing of a strategic mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The Government was aware that this development, which formalises a long-standing arrangement between the two countries, had been under consideration,&rdquo; MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said&nbsp;on Thursday.
He added: &ldquo;We will study the implications of this development for our national security as well as for regional and global stability. The government remains committed to protecting India&rsquo;s national interests and ensuring comprehensive national security in all domains.&rdquo;
The agreement, called the &ldquo;Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement,&rdquo; was signed in Riyadh during Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s visit, hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
According to Saudi statements, the deal seeks to expand defence cooperation and create joint deterrence against external aggression. &ldquo;Any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both,&rdquo; the pact declares, underscoring its NATO-style framework.
The timing of the agreement has drawn attention. It comes just days after an Israeli strike in Doha killed Hamas leaders, an attack that the United States itself described as a &ldquo;unilateral move&rdquo; not aligned with Washington&rsquo;s interests. Gulf states, long reliant on US military backing, appear to be hedging their security options.
For India, however, the pact adds a new layer of concern. Only months ago, New Delhi and Islamabad were locked in a four-day conflict triggered by a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. In retaliation, the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, striking terror infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The episode saw the use of drones and missiles, marking one of the most intense cross-border escalations in recent years.
With Pakistan now formally binding itself to Riyadh in a mutual defence arrangement, security analysts believe India will need to reassess its strategic posture in the region, particularly in light of Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s growing defence outreach.
While New Delhi has not yet issued a strong condemnation, its measured response signals that the MEA is watching closely how the pact evolves and whether it could tilt the balance in an already fragile South Asian security landscape.

MEA says pact’s impact on national security, regional stability will be assessed

India Reacts to Pak-Saudi Defence Pact

MEA says pact’s impact on national security, regional stability will be assessed

September 18, 2025 | 12:35 IST