Pakistan has pledged full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations amid escalating tensions in West Asia following Israeli and US strikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian retaliation across the region. The statement comes in the backdrop of a recently signed mutual defence pact between Islamabad and Riyadh that treats any attack on one country as an attack on both.
Sharif speaks to the Saudi Crown Prince
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to convey Islamabad’s position on the rapidly escalating crisis.
Posting on X, Sharif said he had expressed Pakistan’s “strong condemnation of the dangerous regional escalation” that followed the Israeli attack on Iran and the subsequent strikes across the Gulf region.
He added that Pakistan stands “in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the sisterly Gulf states during this difficult time” and expressed readiness to play a constructive role in restoring peace. Sharif also voiced hope that the holy month of Ramadan would bring tranquillity and stability to the region.
Saudi Arabia condemns Iranian strikes
Saudi Arabia strongly condemned what it described as Iranian attacks targeting the Riyadh and Eastern Province regions. According to a statement reported by Al Arabiya, the Saudi foreign ministry termed the strikes “blatant and cowardly", adding that the Kingdom’s air defence systems successfully repelled the assault. The broader conflict intensified after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran and its regional allies, including Hezbollah and the Houthis, to fire missiles at Tel Aviv and American military bases in Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain. Explosions were reported in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with at least one reported fatality caused by falling debris after missile interceptions.
Pakistan-Saudi defence pact
Sharif’s declaration of support comes months after Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in Riyadh during his state visit. The agreement stipulates that any aggression against either country will be treated as aggression against both.
According to Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office, the pact allows for comprehensive defensive cooperation, underscoring the depth of bilateral security ties. The agreement also signals that Pakistan’s strategic capabilities, including its nuclear deterrent, could be considered in the defence of Saudi Arabia if required.
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As the Middle East teeters on the brink of a wider conflict, Pakistan’s strong backing of Saudi Arabia reinforces the emerging bloc dynamics in the region. With defence commitments now formalised and missile exchanges continuing, the crisis risks deepening geopolitical fault lines unless diplomatic efforts regain momentum.
