Published on, Oct. 1 -- October 1, 2025 1:07 AM

The joint declaration issued from Riyadh last week has introduced a fresh tremor in the shifting geopolitics of South Asia and the Gulf. Signed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the "Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement" carries a clause that is as simple in wording as it is profound in implication: "Any attack on one shall be considered an attack on both."

This single line has immediately stirred debate across political and security circles. On the surface, it mirrors the essence of NATO's Article 5. Yet behind the symbolism lies a series of practical dilemmas and unanswered questions. What does mutual defence mean in real terms? How far will Riyadh and ...