Pakistan Proposes New Talks Between US and Iran Amid Secret Defense Pact with Saudi Arabia
Pakistan's Diplomatic Efforts and Hidden Defense Agreement
On Tuesday, officials from Pakistan announced that Islamabad has suggested a second round of discussions with the United States and Iran. This comes shortly after US Vice President JD Vance indicated that recent negotiations with Tehran concluded without a significant breakthrough, although some progress was noted. Pakistan is actively working to facilitate a meeting between Iran and the US, with potential talks scheduled in Islamabad for next week, as per official sources.
However, while Pakistan seeks to mediate, leaked documents have unveiled a previously undisclosed defense agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which could entangle Islamabad in the very conflict it aims to resolve. According to Drop Site News, a defense pact established in 2025 stipulates that any aggression against one nation will be viewed as aggression against both. The specifics of this agreement have not been publicly disclosed or examined by Pakistan’s parliament, but the leaked information suggests it builds on military cooperation agreements dating back to 1982, significantly increasing Pakistan’s commitments.
Details of the Saudi-Pakistan Defense Pact
The latest iteration of the pact was reportedly signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in 2025. Unlike previous agreements that primarily focused on training and equipment, this updated deal includes a collective defense clause. One significant amendment requires Pakistan to deploy its forces to Saudi Arabia upon request to address any threats to its security, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and interests. Notably, the agreement does not impose any clear reciprocal military obligations on Riyadh, instead depending on Saudi financial support for Pakistan’s struggling economy.
This marks the first instance where Pakistan could be directly involved in defending Saudi Arabia during an active conflict, raising concerns within Pakistan’s military establishment regarding the unbalanced nature of the agreement. It is important to note that Islamabad maintains relationships with both Iran and the United States while also being heavily dependent on Saudi financial assistance. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar previously hinted at the existence of this agreement, emphasizing the need to honor commitments with Saudi Arabia amid the ongoing tensions with Iran.
The recent talks in Islamabad aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict that began on February 28 ultimately did not yield an agreement between the US and Iran.