Pakistan's Military Agreement

The defense agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan has the potential to pose a challenge for India at any time. Therefore, India will have to maneuver its pieces with great skill and tact in international politics, especially with respect to Muslim countries. Saudi Arabia is considered a stronghold of Islam, where Mecca and Medina Sharif are deeply and unwaveringly revered by Muslims worldwide. Regarding Pakistan, it was established as a fortress of Islam, and its founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, assured Western European countries and the United States that through it they could strengthen their relations with Muslim countries throughout Central Asia. Over time, we have seen Pakistan become a benefactor of Western countries, even utilizing its defense bases. Fortunately, over the past two decades, India's relations with the Gulf Muslim countries have deepened, leading to millions of Indians earning their livelihoods in these countries. India's relations with Saudi Arabia have undergone a qualitative change in the last decade and the country's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has further strengthened the mutual relations.

The only thing to be considered is to ensure that Pakistan's nuclear power does not gain traction among Muslim countries, as it is the only country among the 57 Muslim countries in the world to possess a nuclear bomb. The idea of ​​Pakistan developing a nuclear bomb was first conceived in the 1960s by its leader, the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who called it the "Islamic bomb." Therefore, increasing attraction to Pakistan's nuclear power among Muslim countries will not be in the best interests of India and the entire Indian subcontinent. Saudi Arabia enjoys strong US support, and its military has played an active role in its defense. The same can be said for Pakistan, as Pakistani forces have been present in Saudi Arabia since the 1960s. It is believed that while the Gulf countries possess immense wealth, their defense capabilities are very limited, forcing them to seek American protection.

However, with the rise of Israel in Central Asia and its rivalry with Islamic countries, America's balancing power has increased significantly. The defense agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is also being considered an indirect blessing from the United States. This could alter the strategic situation in Central Asia, especially in the Indian subcontinent, so India will have to be very cautious and careful in every step. It is believed that Saudi Arabia signed the defense agreement with Pakistan with Israel in mind and has acknowledged that any attack on Pakistan would be equivalent to an attack on it. Similarly, in the case of Pakistan, any attack on it would be equivalent to an attack on Saudi Arabia. In such a situation, both countries will provide military assistance to each other. The question arises here: Pakistan is considered a leading nation in spreading terrorism worldwide. Therefore, if India takes any steps to thwart attempts to spread cross-border terrorism in its territory, how will Saudi Arabia respond to it? After the incident in Pahalgam, Kashmir on 22nd April, India launched military Operation Sindoor on 8th May and in this brief war that lasted only 100 hours, it gave a tough fight to Pakistan and destroyed many of its military bases.

Officially, Operation Sindoor is still ongoing, so the question naturally arises as to how Saudi Arabia will respond to it. However, judging by the stance of the country's ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, it can be said that he cannot support terrorism in any form and gives equal priority to relations with India. This was evident from his visits to India in recent years. He was in favor of increasing investment in India and sought cooperation with it in various fields. However, it is also true that Saudi Arabia has been a major employment hub for former Pakistani military personnel. A prime example of this is that in 2017, when Pakistani Army General Raheel Sharif retired, the Saudi Arabian government appointed him as the chief commander of its anti-terrorism force.

The history of active military cooperation between the two countries dates back to the 1960s, when war loomed between Egypt and Yemen, and Pakistani troops first deployed to Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, in 1979, when terrorists seized the Holy Kaaba, Pakistani troops actively assisted Saudi forces. Military ties between the two countries continued to deepen, and in 1982, they signed a bilateral agreement on military cooperation. At one point, there were 20,000 Pakistani troops stationed in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, India must carefully consider all aspects of the situation, safeguard its national interests, and also mitigate Pakistan's hostile attitude.