Pakistan Says It Could Be Drawn Into West Asia Conflict Under Saudi Defence Pact

Last Updated:April 07, 2026, 21:20 IST

Pakistani official says Saudi retaliation could end US-Iran talks and draw Islamabad into conflict under defence pact.

A senior Pakistani official has said that Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia’s industrial facilities linked to American firms could derail talks Islamabad is trying to facilitate between Tehran and the Trump administration.

The official told Reuters that any Saudi response would effectively end the dialogue, adding that retaliation could also draw Pakistan into the conflict under its defence pact with Riyadh.

Overnight attacks in Saudi Arabia hit a petrochemical complex in the eastern city of Jubail. “An attack caused a fire at the SABIC plants in Jubail. The sounds of explosions were very loud," AFP quoted a witness as saying, referring to the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation.

The strike came as Saudi air defences engaged a barrage targeting the kingdom’s eastern region, with seven ballistic missiles intercepted, according to a defence ministry spokesperson.

“Parts of ballistic missile debris fell around power facilities; damage assessment is underway," the ministry said in a post on X.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a strategic defence pact in September last year, stating that an attack on one would be considered “an aggression against both".

A source close to the Saudi government told AFP last year that Pakistan’s nuclear umbrella would cover the kingdom. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had also said the country’s nuclear programme could be made available to Saudi Arabia if required.

Pakistani officials have told Reuters that efforts to facilitate talks between the US and Iran are ongoing, but warned that Iran is “walking on thin ice", with the next three to four hours seen as critical for the future of dialogue.

Pakistan has been central to recent backchannel efforts between Washington and Tehran, acting as a go-between for proposals, though there has been no sign of a breakthrough.

“We are in touch with Iranians. They have lately shown flexibility that they could join the talks, but they are at the same time taking hard lines as a prerequisite for any negotiations," the official said.

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