ISLAMABAD/RIYADH – Pakistan’s landmark defense pact with Saudi Arabia has ignited intense debate over whether it includes nuclear guarantees for the Kingdom, with regional and global observers weighing its impact on security in the Middle East and South Asia.
Saudi analyst Ali Shihabi, known for his proximity to the royal court, told AFP that the pact does indeed cover nuclear sharing. “Yes, it does,” he said, adding that Pakistan remembers Saudi Arabia’s financial backing of its nuclear program during years of sanctions. The deal follows Riyadh’s failed attempts to secure similar protection from Washington, which tied nuclear guarantees to Saudi recognition of Israel under the Abraham Accords—a prospect buried by Israel’s Gaza campaign and rejection of a two-state solution.
Analysts say the agreement signals a shift away from Pakistan’s traditional nuclear ambiguity. With Israel’s hardline government under Benjamin Netanyahu issuing open threats and India adopting a more aggressive stance, Islamabad and Riyadh are seen as drawing clear red lines.
Critics worry the pact could drag Pakistan into Saudi-Iran tensions. But experts argue changing regional dynamics—including Israel’s hostility—have nudged Tehran closer to valuing unity within the Muslim world, lowering the risk of a direct clash. In a conflict with India, Pakistan is unlikely to require Saudi forces, but steady Saudi material and financial support would be crucial, observers note .
Questions also surround the reaction of the US and Europe. Supporters argue the pact does not undermine American interests; instead, it could restrain Israeli adventurism, which many in Washington fear is damaging the US’s global standing. With NATO itself practicing nuclear sharing, critics say Western opposition would lack credibility.
Concerns over nuclear safety in any basing or transfer scenario have been brushed aside by experts who insist deterrence can be ensured from current deployments. In Pakistan, the agreement has drawn rare bipartisan support. The PTI and other political forces have welcomed the pact, describing it as vital for national security and a reaffirmation of decades-old brotherhood between Islamabad and Riyadh.