Pakistan’s 'defence pact' with Saudi Arabia exposed as hollow during Durand Line clashes with Afghanistan

Pakistan’s latest border conflict with Afghanistan has not only revealed deep security flaws but also exposed the hollowness of its much-touted “strategic” defence relationship with Saudi Arabia. According to a CNN-News18 report, the so-called Pakistan-Saudi Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA), long projected as a cornerstone of Islamabad’s foreign policy, appears to have little substance or practical value.

During the recent clashes along the Durand Line, which left dozens dead and further strained ties between Islamabad and Kabul, Saudi Arabia offered no military or diplomatic support. Instead, Riyadh issued what CNN-News18 described as a “generic appeal calling for ‘restraint and de-escalation’ from both sides.” The muted response has cast serious doubt over Pakistan’s repeated