Israel’s recent airstrikes on Doha have shaken the Arab world to its core, exposing the fragility of regional security and the indifference of the West to Arab sovereignty. While the United States, the self-proclaimed guardian of global order, chose silence in the face of this aggression, the Muslim world has been forced into a reckoning: either remain fragmented under the weight of Israeli military superiority or forge new alignments that can credibly deter further escalation. In this context, the Pakistan-Saudi Defence Pact emerges not merely as a bilateral agreement but as the potential cornerstone of a broader Muslim defence axis, one rooted both in geopolitical necessity and deep emotional ties to the Harmain Sharifein. For Pakistan, with its nuclear capability and decades of defence expertise, the pact represents a chance to redefine its role as a guarantor of Muslim security. For Saudi Arabia, whose custodianship of Makkah and Madinah carries unparalleled significance, it is a call to fortify the sanctity of the Islamic heartland against external threats.
The mere possibility of a nuclear-backed Pakistan aligning with the Arab heartland could compel Israel and its allies to reconsider reckless adventurism.
Israel’s aggression is not new; it is part of a long and bloody record of destabilisation. From the 1967 Six-Day War and the illegal occupation of Jerusalem and Gaza, to the 1982 invasion of Lebanon that left nearly 20,000 civilians dead, and the repeated bombardments of Gaza since 2008, Israel has consistently employed disproportionate force against weaker neighbours. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), between 2008 and 2023, over 6,400 Palestinians were killed, nearly 1,400 of them children. Just last year, Amnesty International confirmed that Israel continues to operate as an apartheid state, enforcing systemic oppression over Palestinians. The attack on Doha, however, crosses a new line. It directly targets an Arab capital, undermining Gulf sovereignty and signalling that no Arab city is beyond Israel’s reach.
What makes this episode even more alarming is Washington’s silence. The United States, which provides Israel with 3.8 billion dollars annually in military assistance, including precision-guided munitions and missile defence systems like Iron Dome, once again failed to restrain Tel Aviv. Instead, U.S. officials issued vague statements about “security concerns” while refusing to condemn the violation of Qatari airspace. The message is clear: Arab states cannot rely on Washington’s so-called umbrella of protection. This is not the first time. In 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, Washington rushed arms to Israel even as Arab armies sought to reclaim occupied territories. In 1987, the U.S. vetoed a UN resolution condemning Israel’s settlement activities. And in 2021, during Israel’s 11-day assault on Gaza, the Biden administration blocked three UN Security Council statements calling for a ceasefire. The pattern is unmissable: American silence enables Israeli impunity.
It is against this backdrop that the Pakistan-Saudi Defence Pact must be understood. The agreement, signed in Riyadh earlier this month, lays the foundation for joint training exercises, intelligence sharing, and, most significantly, contingency planning for the defence of the Harmain Sharifein. Pakistan already maintains a 1,100-strong contingent stationed in Saudi Arabia, tasked with training and internal security support. With this pact, the role expands into a framework for collective deterrence. Pakistan brings to the table a professional military ranked seventh globally in manpower, decades of counterinsurgency experience, and, crucially, a credible nuclear arsenal long described as the “Islamic bomb” by Western analysts. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, brings unmatched financial muscle, having spent over 75 billion dollars on defence in 2024 alone, making it the world’s fifth-largest military spender. Together, they form a strategic combination of resources and capabilities that can serve as a counterweight to Israel’s aggressive posture.
The emotional weight of this pact cannot be overstated. Pakistan’s relationship with the Harmain Sharifein is not just political, it is spiritual. Every Pakistani household has deep connections to Makkah and Madinah, whether through Hajj, Umrah, or religious devotion. The defence of these sacred sites is seen as a religious duty, not merely foreign policy. When Israel’s strikes on Doha reverberated across Muslim capitals, images of smoke over the Gulf brought back painful memories, from the 1969 arson attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque to the 2002 siege of Jenin. For millions in Pakistan, the idea of standing idle while Arab sanctities are threatened is unthinkable. This shared sentiment, combined with Saudi recognition of Pakistan’s reliability as a defence partner, gives the pact unparalleled depth that goes beyond transactional alliances.
Critics argue that Arab unity has historically been short-lived. The Arab League, founded in 1945, has often been divided on core issues, from Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel in 1979 to the Gulf split with Qatar in 2017. Yet new realities are reshaping the calculus. The Abraham Accords of 2020, which normalised relations between Israel and several Arab states, were hailed in Washington as a breakthrough. But they failed to deliver either peace or security. Instead, they emboldened Israel to escalate operations in Gaza and, most recently, to strike Doha with little fear of consequence. Arab defence budgets remain fragmented. Saudi Arabia spends 75 billion dollars annually, the UAE 24 billion, Egypt 12 billion, and Qatar 11 billion. Combined, the Arab world spends over 200 billion dollars a year on defence, more than Russia or India. Yet without coordination, these resources fail to deter Israel’s 23 billion dollar defence machine, heavily subsidised by the U.S. The Pakistan-Saudi pact, therefore, is a test case: can Muslim states pool capabilities to convert expenditure into credible deterrence?
Pakistan’s role is pivotal not just because of its military capability but also because of its political positioning. Unlike Arab states, Pakistan has never recognised Israel, maintaining a principled stance in line with Palestinian aspirations. Islamabad has long championed the two-state solution in international forums and has consistently rejected U.S. pressure to engage with Tel Aviv. The memory of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s call at the 1974 Islamic Summit in Lahore, urging Muslim unity against Zionism, remains etched in Pakistan’s diplomatic tradition. By aligning with Saudi Arabia now, Pakistan is signalling that its nuclear shield and professional army will not remain confined to South Asia but can serve broader Muslim interests when sanctities are endangered.
The implications of this pact go beyond immediate deterrence. First, it will likely accelerate defence integration in the Gulf. Joint military exercises between Pakistan and GCC states are expected to expand, and discussions on missile defence cooperation are already underway. Second, it will alter Israel’s strategic calculus. For decades, Israel’s doctrine has relied on overwhelming technological superiority and the absence of a unified Muslim response. With Pakistan’s entry into the equation, Tel Aviv must consider the risks of escalation beyond its traditional arenas. Third, it challenges U.S. dominance in the region. Washington’s leverage has long rested on its role as the ultimate security guarantor for Gulf monarchies. A credible Pakistan-Saudi axis reduces this dependency, opening the door for a multipolar Middle East where Muslim states take charge of their own defence.
Of course, challenges remain. Israel enjoys not only U.S. backing but also technological superiority in cyber warfare, missile defence, and intelligence. Its possession of an estimated 90 nuclear warheads, though undeclared, adds another layer of complexity. Moreover, internal divisions within the Muslim world, from the rivalry between Turkey and some Arab states to the war in Yemen, could undermine the momentum. Yet history shows that even limited coordination can have outsized impact. During the 1973 oil embargo, Arab states forced a global energy crisis that reshaped Western policy. Similarly, the mere possibility of a nuclear-backed Pakistan aligning with the Arab heartland could compel Israel and its allies to reconsider reckless adventurism.
The Doha strikes have thus become a turning point. For too long, Israel has acted with impunity, shielded by American silence and Arab disunity. The Pakistan-Saudi Defence Pact is not just another memorandum. It is the birth of a shield, forged by necessity, backed by resources, and sanctified by faith. If sustained, it could mark the first serious attempt in decades to build a Muslim security architecture capable of standing up to Israeli aggression. The time for platitudes is over; the time for shields has begun.
The writer has been teaching at various universities for the past 12 years. He is also the Head of Research and Investigation at 365 News, works as Web Editor at Daily Times, and can be reached at Dr.Muhammad [email protected].