In Pakistan, Saudi Arabia’s security is often described as a “red line,” a position rooted in religious devotion, the sanctity of Islam’s holiest sites and decades of close ties. But the relationship goes far beyond faith and sentiment. The Kingdom’s stability is closely linked to Pakistan’s economic stability, the livelihoods of millions of its citizens and its wider strategic interests.

For Islamabad, threats to Riyadh are not a distant Middle Eastern concern. They carry direct economic and security consequences for Pakistan, from the earnings of its overseas workers to the financial support it receives from one of its closest partners.

Millions of Pakistanis work in Saudi Arabia and send home billions of dollars each year. Riyadh has repeatedly supported Islamabad through balance-of-payments crises, and the Kingdom is emerging as an important market for Pakistani technology companies and investors. Religious solidarity remains the emotional foundation of the relationship, but economic interdependence makes Saudi security a matter of direct national interest.

Money sent home from Riyadh, Jeddah and other Saudi cities can decide whether a family lives comfortably or slips into poverty.—Naimat Khan

Money sent home from Riyadh, Jeddah and other Saudi cities can decide whether a family lives comfortably or slips into poverty.

Recent attacks on civilian sites, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh,........

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