India on Thursday said it is closely monitoring the defence pact signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, stressing that the agreement&rsquo;s implications on regional stability and national security will be carefully evaluated.
The Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) was inked in Riyadh during Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s official visit, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hailing it as a &ldquo;new chapter in regional security cooperation.&rdquo; The pact states that &ldquo;any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both,&rdquo; a clause seen as potentially reshaping the balance of power in West Asia and South Asia.
The Ministry of External Affairs said it was too early to comment on the full consequences of the deal. A senior spokesperson noted, &ldquo;India will carefully examine the impact of the agreement for our national security and wider regional stability. We remain committed to safeguarding our comprehensive security interests.&rdquo; Officials pointed out that defence cooperation between Riyadh and Islamabad was not entirely new, citing decades of military training, joint exercises, and intelligence sharing. The formalisation of these ties through a legally binding agreement is what has drawn India&rsquo;s attention.
The pact comes at a time when the Gulf region is already volatile, with Israeli airstrikes on Doha, conflict in Yemen, and doubts over the reliability of traditional Western security guarantees. Analysts believe the SMDA could give Pakistan greater diplomatic weight while offering Saudi Arabia access to Pakistani military expertise and possibly its nuclear deterrent, although no reference to nuclear cooperation has been made publicly.
For India, which maintains strong ties with both Riyadh and Tehran, the development poses a delicate balancing act. Defence experts caution that India must assess whether the pact could embolden Pakistan diplomatically or militarily, especially when New Delhi is deepening its own strategic outreach in West Asia.
Saudi officials, while highlighting the importance of the pact, dismissed suggestions that it signals a shift in the kingdom&rsquo;s relations with India. Riyadh reiterated that its partnership with New Delhi in energy security, investment, and counter-terrorism remains strong.
India&rsquo;s next steps are expected to involve quiet diplomatic engagement with Saudi Arabia while examining the details of the pact. For now, New Delhi has chosen caution over confrontation, but the announcement highlights the fluid and rapidly changing geopolitics of the region.

India weighs Saudi-Pakistan defence agreement

MEA says pact will be studied for security and regional stability, Riyadh reassures India

India weighs Saudi-Pakistan defence agreement

MEA says pact will be studied for security and regional stability, Riyadh reassures India

September 18, 2025 | 16:59 IST