Pakistan’s role in Middle Eastern security entered a new phase when it signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia in September last year. The pact cemented Pakistan’s position as a close Saudi ally and elevated its role within the Kingdom’s defense architecture. But that role has brought new responsibilities, particularly for the security of its ally. This shift in Pakistan’s traditional role, along with the continuing conflict between the Arabian Gulf states and Iran’s allies, has created an unforeseen challenge for Pakistan’s balancing act between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Within the wider Middle East, Pakistan traditionally maintained close defense ties with Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkiye. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, however, the security relationship with Iran broke down. Even so, Pakistan’s ties with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye remained limited to basic defense cooperation. With Saudi Arabia, this involved joint training and exercises and the occasional deployment of Pakistani troops to the Kingdom in an advisory role. The partnership with Turkiye was qualitatively deeper, including Pakistan’s purchase of Turkish weapons systems and platforms and the upgrading of Pakistani fighter jets and submarines.

Despite its close relationship with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s parliament........

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