Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It is quite remarkable to see that Saudi Arabia gave permission for Israel to fly its fighter jets, along with US refueling aircraft, through its airspace to bomb an Iranian gas field it shares with Qatar....
Was Mossad behind MBS’s palace coup?
This effectively makes Israel and SA allies in the fight against Iran - that’s the way Iran will see it. Wonder if SA formally enters the fray ? Especially if Iran lashes out.
Saudi Arabia effectively pressured Pakistan into formalizing a longstanding security relationship by signing the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement in September 2025. This pact treats aggression against one country as aggression against both, building on decades of military cooperation but institutionalizing it amid heightened regional tensions.
Pakistan remains heavily dependent on Saudi Arabia economically: it owes billions in loans and deferred oil payments, while Saudi Arabia hosts one of the largest Pakistani expatriate communities, whose remittances form a massive portion of Pakistan's foreign exchange inflows (often rivaling or exceeding those from the UAE or other Gulf states). This dynamic resembles the asymmetric U.S.-Mexico relationship—deep economic reliance—but reversed in military terms: Pakistan possesses nuclear weapons, while Saudi Arabia does not.
The Pakistani public would almost certainly oppose any military action—let alone nuclear strikes—against Iran on Saudi Arabia's behalf. A significant Shia minority (estimated at 15% of the population) and widespread sympathy for Iran among segments of society would make such a move politically explosive. If the military were compelled to act under the pact's obligations, it could trigger severe domestic crisis, sectarian unrest, or even internal fractures.
This scenario would represent a major strategic windfall for India, Pakistan's archrival. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who leverages intense nationalism in a style that often outpaces even Donald Trump's, strengthened ties with Israel during a high-profile visit to Israel in late February—just days before the US-Israeli bombings. The visit focused on deepening defense, trade, and counter-terrorism cooperation, further aligning India with Israel at a volatile time.