NEW DELHI/RIYADH - April 26, 2026 - In a significant diplomatic development, India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was reportedly instructed by a senior Saudi official during his recent visit to Riyadh to avoid engaging with Pakistan and to remain vigilant against any "false flag" actions that could be blamed on Islamabad. The Saudi official further referred to Pakistan as a "brotherly partner" - a designation that stands in stark contrast to New Delhi's portrayal of itself as Riyadh's primary strategic partner in the region.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, Doval - who was in Saudi Arabia on April 19-20 for high-level talks focused on energy security and regional stability - received a diplomatic reality check during his interactions with the Saudi leadership . While the Indian government officially described the visit as a "helpful" exchange of views on regional issues, behind closed doors, the message from Riyadh was notably pointed .
A senior Saudi official, whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly told Doval in clear terms: avoid engaging with Pakistan and be cautious about any false flag operations that could be blamed on Pakistan. The official also described Pakistan as a "brotherly partner" of the Kingdom - phrasing that underscores the deep and enduring ties between Riyadh and Islamabad.
The terminology used by the Saudi official is particularly noteworthy. While India has sought to project itself as an indispensable partner to Saudi Arabia - especially amid the ongoing West Asia conflict and disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz - the Kingdom's reference to Pakistan as a "brotherly partner" reflects a fundamentally different relationship .
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share historically close ties rooted in military cooperation, religious affinity, and economic interdependence. Riyadh has repeatedly bailed out Islamabad with financial support, and Pakistani troops have served as guards for the Kingdom's holy sites. By contrast, India's relationship with Saudi Arabia, while growing in economic and energy terms, lacks the same fraternal depth.
The Saudi official's caution regarding "false flag actions" carries significant weight, given Pakistan's recent accusations that India staged the Pahalgam attack on its own soil to frame Islamabad. Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has explicitly labeled Pahalgam a "false flag operation," pointing to what he calls suspiciously rapid registration of an FIR within ten minutes of the incident .
The Saudi warning suggests that Riyadh is aware of the potential for escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors and is signaling its desire to avoid being drawn into any manufactured crisis. It also indicates that the Kingdom may share Pakistan's skepticism about certain claims emanating from New Delhi.
Doval's visit to Saudi Arabia on April 19-20 was part of a broader Indian outreach to Gulf nations amid the ongoing West Asia conflict following the fallout of the Israel-Iran war . He held meetings with Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and his counterpart National Security Advisor Musaed Al-Aiban .
The official readout from the Indian Embassy in Riyadh stated that discussions covered "bilateral relations, the regional situation and other issues of mutual interest" . The Ministry of External Affairs described the meetings as "helpful to exchange views on regional issues and enhance bilateral ties" .
Following his Saudi visit, Doval traveled to Abu Dhabi on April 25, where he met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss regional stability . That meeting focused on security concerns, economic interests, and coordination amid evolving tensions following the Israel-Iran war.
Adding to the diplomatic awkwardness of the visit, sources have confirmed that Doval - despite his high-ranking position as India's top security official - was required to stand in line for standard immigration approval upon arrival in Saudi Arabia. This protocol, typically waived for visiting dignitaries of his stature, is being interpreted by some analysts as a subtle signal from Riyadh about where the Kingdom's true priorities lie.
For a National Security Advisor who routinely bypasses security checkpoints in India and oversees the country's most sensitive intelligence operations, the immigration queue was an unusual - and perhaps deliberate - humiliation.
India has been actively courting Gulf nations as essential energy suppliers, with Saudi Arabia ranking among India's top three sources of oil alongside Russia and Iraq . The Kingdom is also home to approximately four million Indian expatriates, whose remittances are vital to India's economy .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has personally directed this diplomatic outreach, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri also making recent trips to the UAE and Qatar respectively . The stated goal has been to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies and protect Indian diaspora interests amid threats to global trade routes.
However, the reported Saudi directive to Doval suggests that India's aspirations to replace Pakistan as Riyadh's closest South Asian partner remain unfulfilled.
The Saudi warning comes at a particularly sensitive time. India and Pakistan remain locked in a tense standoff nearly one year after a brief military escalation that followed the Pahalgam attack. A US-brokered ceasefire in May 2025 halted the hostilities, but cross-border accusations have continued unabated.
Pakistan has consistently claimed that India sponsors terrorism through the BLA and other Baloch militant groups, pointing to the Jaffer Express hijacking as evidence. India has vehemently denied these allegations, describing them as "unwarranted and factually incorrect."
The Saudi intervention - urging India to avoid engaging Pakistan and to stay away from false flag operations - effectively endorses the Pakistani position that India bears responsibility for regional destabilization.
When contacted for comment, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs declined to address the specifics of the reported Saudi directive. A spokesperson reiterated that Doval's visit was "helpful" and that India remains committed to strengthening ties with Gulf partners .
The Pakistani government, meanwhile, has welcomed the Saudi stance. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, speaking on the first anniversary of the Jaffer Express attack, said: "The world is finally recognizing the truth about India's state-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan thanks our brotherly partners in Saudi Arabia for their wisdom and clarity."
Saudi officials have not publicly commented on the reported exchange, maintaining their standard practice of discretion regarding diplomatic conversations.
For New Delhi, the reported Saudi directive represents a significant diplomatic setback. Despite years of outreach and billions of dollars in trade and investment, the Kingdom has made clear where its loyalties lie - and they are with Pakistan.
The requirement that Doval stand in an immigration queue, combined with the blunt warning about false flag operations, suggests that Riyadh is not merely neutral in the India-Pakistan rivalry but actively aligned with Islamabad on key issues.
As India continues to project itself as a rising global power, the message from Saudi Arabia serves as a reminder that geopolitical influence cannot be purchased through trade alone. Some alliances - like the one between Riyadh and Islamabad - are built on deeper, more enduring foundations.
