Saudi-Pakistan Defense Chiefs Discuss Measures to Halt Iranian Attacks on Kingdom as Mutual Defense Pact Faces First Test

Introduction

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir met in Riyadh on Saturday, March 7, 2026, to discuss Iranian attacks on the Kingdom amid the escalating US-Iran conflict. The high-level meeting marks the first major test of the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement signed between the two nations in September 2025.

The discussions come as Iran continues to target Gulf states with missiles and drones in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026.

The Meeting: What Was Discussed

Prince Khalid’s Statement

Prince Khalid bin Salman announced the meeting on social media, revealing the key topics discussed:

“We discussed Iranian attacks on the Kingdom and the measures needed to halt them within the framework of our Joint Strategic Defense Agreement.”

The Saudi defense minister emphasized that both sides:

Stressed that such actions undermine regional security and stability
Expressed hope that Iran would exercise wisdom and avoid miscalculation
Reviewed efforts to halt attacks that do not serve regional security

Meeting Attendees

The meeting was attended by senior military officials from both countries:

Fayyadh Al-Ruwaili, Chief of the General Staff of Saudi Armed Forces
Hisham bin Saif, Adviser to the Defense Minister for Intelligence Affairs

Diplomatic Coordination

Separately, Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif received a call from his Pakistani counterpart Raza Naqvi, who:

Condemned the “blatant attacks” targeting the Kingdom
Affirmed Pakistan’s solidarity in confronting any threats to Saudi security and stability

The Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement

September 2025 Signing

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the “Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement” in September 2025 during Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh. The agreement’s core clause states:

“Any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”

This principle is similar in structure to NATO’s Article 5, which details collective defense obligations.

Deliberate Ambiguity

According to Middle East Eye, the agreement appears deliberately ambiguous in practice:

It does not automatically require military intervention
Allows each country to determine the form of support according to national interests and capabilities
Can be invoked through consultation between the two governments

First Geopolitical Test

The current Iran conflict represents the first serious geopolitical test of the pact. According to Zahid Shahab Ahmed, associate professor at the National Defense College of the UAE:

“If the war is prolonged, Saudi Arabia might ask Pakistan to help militarily. In such a situation, Pakistan is in a stand-by mode and is not positioned to deny support to Saudi Arabia.”

Pakistani Foreign Minister’s Revelation

Direct Communication with Iran

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar revealed on Tuesday, March 4, that he had directly raised the defense pact in conversations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

“We have a defense pact with Saudi Arabia, and I conveyed this to the Iranian side.”

Dar suggested the understanding may already be shaping Iran’s calculations:

“You can compare that the least attacks from Iran are against Saudi Arabia and Oman.”

This statement implies that diplomatic engagement, backed by the defense pact, may be deterring Iran from launching more extensive attacks on Saudi territory.

Pakistan as Diplomatic Channel

According to Ayesha Siddiqa, a London-based Pakistani defense analyst:

“Saudi Arabia appears reluctant to become directly involved in the conflict despite Iranian strikes on its territory. And therefore Riyadh has been asking Islamabad to convey the message to Tehran not to attack our soil, as we are not involved in the conflict.”

This suggests Pakistan is serving as a diplomatic channel between Riyadh and Tehran.

Iranian Attacks on Saudi Arabia

Recent Incidents

Since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28, Saudi Arabia has faced multiple attacks:

Shaybah Oil Field: Drones targeting the Aramco facility in the Empty Quarter were shot down by Saudi air defenses on Saturday
Riyadh Region: Four drones were intercepted over the capital region
US Embassy: A drone attack on the US embassy in Riyadh on Tuesday caused a minor fire, but no casualties

Broader Gulf Targets

Iran has targeted all six GCC states—Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman—in what analysts describe as a “nightmare scenario” of retaliation. Key targets include:

Oil and gas infrastructure
Civilian hubs with significant casualties
Military installations

Casualties and Damage

While many projectiles have been intercepted by Patriot and THAAD batteries, falling debris and direct hits have led to casualties across the Gulf region.

Pakistan’s Strategic Dilemma

Multiple Security Pressures

Pakistan faces a complex strategic situation:

Eastern Border:

Long-standing rivalry with India continues to dictate defense planning
Bulk of conventional military capability oriented towards eastern border
Significant troop concentrations maintained at high operational readiness

Western Border:

Cross-border tensions with Afghanistan’s Taliban administration
Sustained military deployments required
Militant attacks and border clashes have intensified

Internal Pressures:

Sectarian dynamics: Approximately 15-20% of Pakistan’s 240 million people are Shia Muslims
Deep cultural and religious ties to Iran among Shia population
Recent violent protests in Karachi and Islamabad over Khamenei’s killing

Economic Dependencies

The partnership with Riyadh serves as a critical financial lifeline for Islamabad:

More than 4 million Pakistanis working in the Gulf remit billions annually
Saudi Arabia has frequently stabilized Pakistan’s economic crises with:
- Central bank deposits
- Deferred oil payments
- Investment pledges
Saudi officials pledged to continue oil supply through Red Sea route

Domestic Backlash

The government has faced domestic backlash over its perceived neutrality:

At least 23 people were killed during protests on Sunday after Khamenei’s death was announced. Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, head of a major Shia political party, demanded:

“An explicit condemnation of Israel and the United States and formal affirmation of Iran’s right to defend its sovereignty.”

One protester in Islamabad warned:

“If the government sides with Saudi Arabia against Iran, it will create deep resentment within the country.”

Regional Implications

Gulf Security Architecture

The meeting reflects broader regional security coordination efforts:

GCC Unity: Coordinating collective defense among Gulf states
International Partners: Engaging US, UK, Turkey, and other allies
Diplomatic Outreach: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman conducting calls with Turkish, British, and Cypriot leaders

Turkey’s Potential Involvement

Reports suggest Turkey is in “advanced talks” to join the Saudi-Pakistan defense pact, which could significantly expand the security architecture.

Message to Tehran

The high-profile meeting sends several messages to Iran:

Saudi-Pakistan Unity: Demonstrating the strength of the bilateral defense relationship
Diplomatic Backchannel: Pakistan serving as intermediary between Riyadh and Tehran
Deterrence: The defense pact may be constraining Iranian attacks on Saudi territory

Potential Forms of Pakistani Support

Limited Support Scenarios

Most analysts view limited support as more realistic than full military deployment:

Intelligence-sharing: Providing information on Iranian capabilities and intentions
Naval patrols: Operating in the Arabian Sea to protect shipping
Technical air defense cooperation: Assisting with air defense systems
Training and advisory support: Building on decades of Pakistani military assistance to Saudi Arabia

Full Military Deployment

A full military deployment would require:

“Risky reallocation of resources” from the Indian border, according to retired military officials
Careful management of domestic sectarian tensions
Clear strategic objectives and exit criteria

International Reactions

United States

The US has encouraged regional coordination and supports Gulf security:

Continued military assistance
Security cooperation
Coalition building

United Kingdom

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed UK support for Saudi Arabia:

Condemned “indiscriminate and reckless” Iranian strikes
Emphasized UK stands by measures Riyadh is taking to preserve sovereignty

Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the situation with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman:

Saudi Arabia condemned Iranian attacks on Turkish territory
Affirmed support for measures Turkey takes to safeguard security

What Comes Next

Short-term Outlook

In the coming days:

Continued diplomatic coordination between Riyadh and Islamabad
Potential Pakistani mediation efforts with Tehran
Monitoring of Iranian attack patterns on Saudi territory
Assessment of defense pact obligations

Long-term Implications

If the conflict continues:

Pressure may increase on Pakistan to provide more substantial support
The defense pact’s credibility may be tested
Regional security architecture could evolve
Domestic pressures in Pakistan may intensify

Conclusion

The meeting between Saudi and Pakistani defense chiefs represents a significant moment in the Iran conflict and the broader regional security landscape. As the first major test of the 2025 Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement, it demonstrates both the value and the complexity of such security partnerships.

Pakistan faces a delicate balancing act: maintaining its commitment to Saudi Arabia while managing domestic sectarian sensitivities and avoiding direct confrontation with Iran. The diplomatic efforts revealed by Foreign Minister Dar suggest Islamabad is working behind the scenes to de-escalate tensions rather than preparing for military involvement.

For Saudi Arabia, the meeting reinforces the Kingdom’s approach of building regional and international coalitions to address the Iranian threat while avoiding direct involvement in the US-Iran conflict. The relatively limited nature of Iranian attacks on Saudi territory—compared to other Gulf states—suggests this strategy may be working.

As the conflict continues, the Saudi-Pakistan defense relationship will remain a critical factor in regional calculations. Whether the pact ultimately requires Pakistani military involvement or continues to serve primarily as a deterrent and diplomatic tool will depend on how the broader conflict evolves.

Sources

Arab News — “Saudi, Pakistan defense chiefs discuss ‘measures needed to halt’ Iranian attacks on Kingdom” — Source
Saudi Gazette — “Saudi defense minister, Pakistan army chief urge Iran to avoid miscalculations” — Source
Middle East Eye — “Will the Iran war trigger a Saudi Arabia-Pakistan mutual defence pact?” — Source
Al Jazeera — “Iran war live: Trump says no deal with Iran until ‘unconditional surrender’” — Source
Saudi Press Agency — “Saudi Crown Prince holds calls with UK, Turkey, Cyprus leaders on regional developments” — Source
Gulf News — “Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement: Analysis and implications” — Source