India Must Reassess Strategy as Saudi‑Pakistan Pact Deepens Regional Threat Perceived By New Delhi

✍️ Written by Saket Suman

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on September 17 formally inked a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, committing that any aggression against one will be treated as aggression against both. 

The accord, signed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Riyadh, pledges joint deterrence, enhanced military cooperation, and cemented defense ties.

Mohammed bin Salman receives Shehbaz Sharif

For India, the deal registers as more than a diplomatic development--it alters the security calculus along its western front. India has long accused Pakistan of supporting terrorist networks whose actions sow violence across India's Kashmir and elsewhere. 

Earlier this year, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror infrastructure sites across Pakistan and illegally Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including camps of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, following the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.

HRH the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister of Pakistan hold an official session of talks. 🇸🇦🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/tgYebb1vlb

— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) September 17, 2025

This new pact with Saudi Arabia potentially complicates India’s ability to conduct cross‑border counterterror operations without increased diplomatic pushback or risk of broader regional escalation. 

It strengthens Pakistan’s security posture and may embolden Islamabad, under the shield of a larger strategic partner. New Delhi may now face higher stakes in any retaliatory moves, requiring sharper intelligence, tighter coalition building, and more visible multilateral support.

The Saudi‑Pakistan defence agreement also signifies a shift in regional power alignments.

India has emphasized that terrorism--not any state per se--is the target of its military interventions. 

With Pakistan formalizing a defence guarantee with Saudi Arabia, India will need to tackle both threat perception and political optics increasingly and balance retaliatory deterrence with diplomacy in the eyes of Gulf capitals and beyond.

Also Read: 

Pakistan’s Nuclear Posturing in Iran-Israel Conflict Raises Fresh Alarms 

What We Know: Saudi‐Pakistan Defence Pact Raises Stakes for India Amid Terror Strife