ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has issued a firm warning to all warring parties in the US-Iran conflict, declaring that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a "no-go area" under Islamabad's strategic defense agreement with Riyadh, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on May 6, 2026 .
Speaking at the 6th International Paigham-e-Islam Conference in Islamabad, Dar stated that Pakistan has communicated to all parties involved in the conflict that the Kingdom's security is inviolable.
🚨 BREAKING | Pakistan's Foreign Minister:
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"We have clearly informed all warring parties: Saudi Arabia is a 'NO GO AREA'. No one is allowed to view it with hostile intent or target it. The Kingdom's security is our red line, and our forces stand ready under our mutual defense... pic.twitter.com/XL22s2xoJS
"We told the parties involved [in the US-Iran conflict] that, 'Please, Saudi Arabia is a no-go area for us. That anyone should even cast an evil eye toward it,'" Dar declared .
His remarks come amid escalating regional hostilities, including recent Iranian missile and drone strikes targeting the United Arab Emirates, which injured three Indian nationals, and heightened tensions over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz .
The defense commitment between Islamabad and Riyadh was formalized in September 2025 when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in Riyadh . The pact explicitly states that "any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both" .
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, also addressing the conference, emphasized the sanctity of the agreement, stating: "The protection, defense and security of the sacred land of the Two Holy Mosques is extremely important and dearer to us than our lives" . He added that the mutual defense agreements between the two brotherly countries affirm "this iron resolve of ours" .
Pakistan's military spokesperson separately reaffirmed the country's position, stating: "Any threat to Saudi Arabia is also a threat to us" .
In a concrete demonstration of its commitment, Pakistan has already deployed fighter jets and support aircraft to Saudi Arabia under the defense pact. Saudi Arabia's defense ministry confirmed in April 2026 that Pakistani fighter jets and support aircraft had arrived at the King Abdulaziz Air Base in the Kingdom's Eastern Province .
The deployment, which includes both fighter and support aircraft belonging to the Pakistan Air Force, aims to "enhance joint military coordination" and raise "the level of operational readiness between the armed forces of the two countries" . The move is designed to support security and stability at both regional and international levels .
Security analysts have noted that this deployment sends a clear message to Iran regarding Pakistan's security commitment to Saudi Arabia. While Pakistan continues to mediate negotiations between the US and Iran, it is also urging Tehran to take the negotiations seriously . One analyst noted that if the conflict breaks out again, Pakistan - which currently maintains strategic neutrality - may turn to Saudi Arabia or even invoke the mutual defense treaty .
Dar's declaration comes amid a volatile regional security environment. On May 4, Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting the United Arab Emirates, marking the first time the UAE has been targeted since the April 8 ceasefire between Iran and the United States .
The UAE's defense ministry reported intercepting 15 missiles and four drones fired from Iran . A drone attack set off a "large" fire at the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone, injuring three Indian nationals . Schools in the UAE were shifted to remote learning until the situation could be reassessed .
The United States has vowed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with President Donald Trump warning that Iran would be "blown off the face of the earth" if it targets American ships attempting to transit the critical waterway .
Iran, however, has accused the Trump administration of breaching the ceasefire and stated that Washington and its allies have endangered energy and shipping transit through the Strait of Hormuz . Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf asserted that the renewal of attacks was a response to US violations of the truce .
Pakistan finds itself navigating a complex diplomatic landscape. While Islamabad has positioned itself as a key mediator between Washington and Tehran - hosting the first direct US-Iran talks in Islamabad in April 2026 following decades without formal face-to-face negotiations - Dar's latest declaration signals that Islamabad is not neutral on the question of Saudi security .
Dar noted that Pakistan had played a mediating role in bringing the US and Iran to dialogue after a long gap of 47 years . Under Pakistan's facilitation, indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States had previously taken place, and in Islamabad, 21 hours of continuous discussions were held between the two sides with Pakistan acting as a mediator .
However, the Deputy Prime Minister also mentioned that Iran alleged US attacks on its bases, while Pakistan sought to de-escalate the situation through dialogue facilitation efforts .
The message to Tehran appears to be: we are willing to mediate, but the security of Saudi Arabia remains a red line .
The recent Iranian attacks have drawn widespread international condemnation. Saudi Arabia condemned and denounced "in the strongest terms" the Iranian targeting of civilian and economic facilities in the UAE, affirming its solidarity with the Emirati people . Qatar described the strikes as a "blatant violation of the UAE's sovereignty and a serious threat to the security and stability of the region" .
Bahrain denounced the "Iranian terrorist attacks" as a "dangerous escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region" . Jordan's Foreign Minister condemned "the renewed Iranian attacks on the UAE," describing them as "a dangerous escalation and a threat to the UAE's security, stability, territorial integrity and the safety of its citizens" .
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz strongly condemned Iran's attacks and stated: "Tehran must return to the negotiating table and stop holding the region and the world hostage: The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz must end" . The European Union denounced the attacks, with EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen stating that the strikes were "unacceptable and constitute a clear violation of sovereignty and international law" .
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained close defense ties for decades, long before the formalization of the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement . The relationship has included:
Military training cooperation
Troop deployments
Security coordination
Advisory deployments of Pakistani personnel to the Kingdom
Saudi financial support for Pakistan during periods of economic stress, including a 6billionsupportpackagein2018comprising6billionsupportpackagein2018comprising3 billion as a deposit at the central bank and $3 billion worth of oil supplies on deferred payment
Sharif said the agreement was a "milestone" and that both sides are committed to translating it into practical cooperation through expanded joint training, military exercises and enhanced professional exchanges . He termed Pakistan's partnership with Saudi Arabia - rooted in mutual trust and a common Islamic heritage - a key pillar of Islamabad's foreign and security policy .
The security partnership also has economic dimensions. Sharif called Salman days before the deployment, promising to "stand with" Saudi Arabia in resisting attacks and threats from Iran, while also promising to accelerate the implementation of Saudi Arabia's $5 billion investment plan in Pakistan .
This financial support comes at a critical time for Pakistan's economy and signals a "you support us, we will defend you" quid pro quo that has long defined the bilateral relationship.
As the US-Iran conflict continues to simmer, Pakistan finds itself walking a tightrope. On one hand, Islamabad is positioning itself as a credible mediator between Washington and Tehran - a role that requires trust from both sides. On the other hand, Pakistan's defense pact with Saudi Arabia obligates it to come to the Kingdom's defense if attacked, a commitment that could potentially place Islamabad at odds with Iran.
Dar's declaration that Saudi Arabia is a "no-go area" for Pakistan is likely to reassure Riyadh of Islamabad's commitment while serving as a deterrent signal to Tehran. However, it also raises the stakes for Pakistani diplomacy, which must now manage the competing demands of its regional partners while maintaining its credibility as a mediator.
As one analyst noted, the deployment is not a military upgrade but rather a message to Iran conveying Pakistan's security commitment to Saudi Arabia . Whether that message successfully deters further Iranian actions against Gulf states while preserving space for diplomatic negotiations remains to be seen.
The coming weeks will be critical as the US-Iran ceasefire remains fragile, oil prices continue to climb - with Brent crude jumping 5.8 percent to $114.4 following the recent attacks - and the region braces for further escalation or a renewed push for diplomacy .
