‘Pakistan’s Security Pact With Saudi Arabia still stands’: Islamabad Tells Tehran

2026-03-03 - 12:24

ISLAMABAD – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar revealed high-stakes diplomatic balancing act faced by Pakistan, which is apparently caught between powerful allies and rival neighbors amid the dangerous escalation. Foreign Minister/ Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan , Ishaq Dar : "We are in a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, and under that very agreement, I immediately contacted Iran. They said, "Get us guarantees from Saudi Arabia that their territory will not be used against us." I... pic.twitter.com/uOcGspKU8d — Pakistan Defence🇵🇰 (@PakDefence_) March 3, 2026 Islamabad maintains a longstanding defense relationship with Saudi Arabia, yet also seeks to preserve vital ties with Iran, a country at odds with Gulf powers after death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. According to Dar, Pakistani officials launched shuttle-style diplomacy, warning Tehran that Islamabad’s security commitments to Riyadh remain firm and stressing that Pakistani territory will never be allowed to serve as a staging ground for aggression against the Saudi kingdom. These behind-the-scenes exchanges, described as intense shuttle communication, have reportedly coincided with a downturn in attacks previously aimed at Saudi Arabia and Oman. While officials stop short of claiming direct credit, the developments underscore Pakistan’s precarious position: seeking to maintain strategic partnerships while encouraging dialogue and de-escalation. Islamabad’s intermediary role places it in the center of regional power dynamics, where perceptions of alignment or favoritism could carry significant geopolitical consequences. As the Middle East remains engulfed in conflict and suspicion, Pakistan’s diplomatic maneuvering highlights the broader struggle to balance security alliances with efforts to prevent further escalation. Drone Strikes in Riyadh A wave of drone strikes slammed the US embassy in Riyadh, sparking a fire and forcing American officials to warn citizens to stay far away from the compound. This attack followed an earlier drone hit on the U.S. embassy in Kuwait, signaling that no U.S. facility in the Gulf appears safe as tensions explode. Meanwhile, Iran unleashed waves of retaliatory strikes, targeting U.S. bases and allied sites across the region. The violence spiraled into a multi-front conflict involving missiles, airstrikes, and ground operations. The militant group Hezbollah fired missile salvos at northern Israel, prompting Israel to respond with heavy airstrikes and evacuation orders in southern Lebanon. Israeli troops have now begun limited ground operations—an alarming escalation that effectively turns Lebanon’s southern border into a war zone. Reports claim hundreds have died in strikes inside Iran, including civilians, as air raids hit military facilities and even a school. Explosions continue to rock cities, while missile barrages toward Israel are intercepted by defense systems—though some projectiles still break through, causing fatalities. At the center of the storm is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which U.S. officials accuse of orchestrating regional aggression. Iran denies developing nuclear weapons and frames its actions as retaliation against Western and Israeli strikes.