The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has placed Pakistan in a particularly difficult position. When Islamabad signed a strategic mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia in September 2025, just days after Qatar came under Israeli attack, the pact was seen as a response to Israel’s military dominance and a shattered perception of U.S. security guarantees. It also suggested that Saudi Arabia could possibly enjoy Pakistan’s nuclear umbrella, though this has not been confirmed. Both sides have purposefully maintained strategic ambiguity regarding what role Pakistan’s armed forces and its nuclear arsenal could play in a military emergency.
The agreement was tested when Iran began launching missiles and drones against Saudi Arabia February 28, prompting questions as to why it didn’t trigger the mutual defense clause. Instead, Pakistan chose a diplomatic track, working alongside Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia to mediate between Washington and Tehran. In Pakistan’s thinking, siding overtly with Saudi Arabia would complicate Pakistan’s close but occasionally tense relations with Iran. At the same time, Pakistan relies deeply on foreign investments, and Saudi Arabia has played a central role propping up the country’s economy.
Read the full article at The Arab Gulf States Institution.
Emil Avdaliani is a Research Fellow at the Turan Research Center.