The Saudi visit: Convergence and cooperation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s arrival in Riyadh to attend the Future Investment Initiative conference, hosted by the Saudi government, marks yet another reaffirmation of Pakistan’s deepening engagement with the Kingdom. Consequent to the September signing of the historic strategic mutual defense agreement (MDA) between the two old and close friends, their relationship has acquired significance for the entire Muslim world and particularly for the Middle East.

The Prime Minister, joined by Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, will focus primarily on strengthening the bilateral relationship, and within the context of the MDA, according to which an attack on one country will be considered an attack on the other. So what will Pakistan expect under militant attacks with no efforts from Kabul to prevent them?

With Pakistan-Afghanistan relations deteriorating into open conflict, Pakistan will have expectations of Saudi Arabia to weigh in on the Taliban to agree on reining in terror groups unleashing terrorism on Pakistani soil from Afghan territory.

The frequent high-level exchanges between Islamabad and Riyadh— by the Prime Minister, cabinet members, and the army chief— reflect a new momentum. 

- Nasim Zehra

While Pakistan–Saudi relations have always carried strategic weight, their economic component has lagged behind. Despite recurring Saudi financial support through oil credits, debt rollovers, and budgetary assistance, these ties have yet to translate into sustained, productive investment. The recent signing of memoranda worth $2.8 billion, including Saudi Arabia’s 15 percent stake in the Reko Diq mining project, is a step forward, but most remain at a preliminary stage. To truly convert the defense trust into economic dividends, Pakistan must do its own homework— ensuring regulatory clarity, policy continuity and investor confidence.

In the security domain however, Pakistan’s position has strengthened considerably. Amid new regional threats, Pakistan’s defense cooperation with key Arab states has become central to emerging regional security arrangements. Pakistan’s bilateral military understandings with Gulf partners are increasingly viewed as the potential pillar around which a new regional security architecture could be built. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s recent reference to an “Eastern NATO” underlines this evolving dynamic. Saudi Arabia, given its geopolitical centrality and ideological influence, would naturally anchor such an arrangement, while Pakistan— as the only Muslim nuclear state with a professional and combat-experienced military— brings unmatched capability, credibility, and depth to the table.

The frequent high-level exchanges between Islamabad and Riyadh— by the Prime Minister, cabinet members, and the Army Chief— reflect this new momentum. The Mutual Defense Agreement signed in September revived the long-dormant GCC Joint Defense Council originally established in 2000. It also reaffirmed Pakistan’s role as a dependable strategic partner in regional security planning. Its decades-long engagement with Arab militaries— particularly in training, counter-terrorism, and intelligence cooperation— gives it an operational familiarity that few other states possess. Field Marshal Munir’s recent visit to Egypt and his extensive discussions with Egyptian defense leaders further demonstrate Pakistan’s integration into the wider Arab security matrix.

Pakistan’s growing defense-industrial capacity and expanding ordinance production base add another dimension to its value as a partner. Its credible nuclear deterrent, professional army, and consistent positions on Palestine, Iran, and broader Muslim-world security have enhanced its reputation as a responsible and stabilising Muslim power. Moreover, Pakistan’s historic ability to act as a bridge between Arab and non-Arab Muslim states remains one of its enduring geopolitical assets. Its concurrent working relationships with both China and the United States— two rival superpowers— also enable Islamabad to extend diplomatic confidence to regional interlocutors seeking balance and dialogue.

The roots of Pakistan–Saudi solidarity run deep. During Pakistan’s gravest crises— particularly after the 1971 breakup— it was King Faisal’s unwavering support that helped Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto rebuild confidence and convene the landmark 1974 Islamic Summit in Lahore. That summit established Saudi Arabia’s leadership in Muslim affairs and reinforced Pakistan’s role as a pivotal Muslim state. The cooperative engagement on Palestine and broader Arab issues that followed was grounded in this foundational partnership.

Today, both countries continue to maintain space for independent foreign policies, even as their paths converge. Saudi Arabia’s recent outreach to Iran signifies Riyadh’s pragmatic turn toward de-escalation and inclusivity. Similarly, Riyadh’s condemnation of Israel’s attacks on Iran earlier this year reflected renewed solidarity with Muslim states. In this environment, Pakistan’s credibility and neutrality within the Muslim world make it an indispensable interlocutor and security partner.

Against the backdrop of expanding geopolitical rivalries and shifting global alliances, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are rediscovering each other as strategic equals. The Kingdom’s economic weight and Pakistan’s military strength together form a natural complementarity. If managed with foresight— anchored in economic cooperation and underwritten by strategic trust— the Pakistan–Saudi partnership could indeed become the central pillar of a new Eastern security architecture: a credible Muslim-world response to the uncertainties of a fracturing global order.

- Nasim Zehra is an author, analyst and national security expert. 

Twitter: @NasimZehra