Pakistan has begun deploying military forces to Saudi Arabia in what appears to be a significant strategic move, one that could have broader implications for any renewed confrontation with Iran.
According to reports, the forces arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base in the kingdom’s Eastern Province. Officially, the deployment falls under the mutual defense agreement signed in September 2025, which states that an attack on one country would be treated as an attack on both.
The move could carry major consequences if the ongoing talks in Islamabad collapse, as many expect, and hostilities with Iran resume. Pakistan is not only a major military power, but also the only Muslim country with nuclear weapons. While it is a Sunni-majority state, its Shi’ite minority, estimated at around 15%, has faced persecution and is sometimes viewed with suspicion over alleged pro-Iranian leanings.
At the same time, Pakistan is grappling with a deep economic crisis and remains heavily reliant on Saudi financial support. In that context, the deployment may also be seen as a form of “military repayment,” with aircraft and ground forces reportedly sent to the kingdom, though their exact scale has not been disclosed, according to Saudi media reports on Saturday night.
For Saudi Arabia, Pakistan also serves as a kind of strategic backstop. Saudi officials have previously indicated that if Iran were to obtain nuclear weapons, Pakistan could potentially provide the kingdom with comparable capabilities.
Public praises Pakistan for move, criticizes Egypt
Does the Pakistani move alter the rules of the game? Reactions on social media suggest a charged atmosphere across the Arab world.
In Saudi Arabia, many users praised the move as a sign of “Muslim brotherhood," as others commended Pakistan, writing that “while no Arab country helped Saudi Arabia when it was attacked by Iran, Pakistan stands by our side.”
The underlying criticism in these remarks appears to be directed primarily at Cairo, which, despite maintaining the largest army in the Arab world and receiving significant Saudi aid, refrained from threatening Iran or offering strategic defense to the kingdom during missile and drone attacks.
Voices from Egypt and elsewhere argued that “Saudi Arabia is revealed as a weak state that cannot defend itself.”
Others said Pakistan’s support came too late and emphasized that “the assistance is not free.”
The weakening of Sunni alliances is becoming increasingly evident. While Iran activated its full network of regional proxies, Sunni states largely remained passive. The moderate axis limited itself to condemnations, while the Muslim Brotherhood-aligned bloc failed to deliver a meaningful response.
As the Arab saying goes, “A friend in time of distress is a true friend.”
In practice, these alliances have fallen short, and Gulf states may now reconsider their regional partnerships.
For Israel, the development is complex. On the one hand, Pakistan’s involvement could increase pressure on Iran. On the other hand, it brings Saudi Arabia closer to a country that has expressed hostile positions toward Israel.
Dr. Yaron Friedman is a researcher and lecturer of Arabic in the Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at the University of Haifa. He is the author of the books “The Alawis in Syria: Religion, History and Identity” and “The Shiites in the Land of Israel” (Brill), and manages the newsletter “This Week in the Middle East.”