Pakistan-Saudi Mutual Defence Pact Crumbles Under First Real Tests

• Pakistan and Saudi Arabia's "Mutual Defence Agreement," signed in September 2025, declared aggression against one as aggression against both.
• The pact faced its first tests in February 2026 when Pakistan confronted the Taliban and Saudi Arabia was attacked by Iran.
• Neither country offered military support or assistance to the other, despite the agreement's promises of collective security.
• Pakistan's silence during Iran's attacks on Saudi Arabia was influenced by its 900-km border with Iran and previous Iranian strikes on Balochistan.
• The "nuclear umbrella" aspect, hinted at by Pakistan, proved theoretical, as Islamabad was unwilling to risk nuclear confrontation for Saudi interests.