Ishaal Zehra
On September 9, Israel’s airstrike on Doha jolted the region, violating Qatari sovereignty during ceasefire negotiations with Hamas. While the attack drew widespread condemnation, its deeper consequence may be less about the hostages it endangered and more about the structural shifts it has triggered in Middle Eastern security.
The air strike was more than an act of military aggression against Qatar—it was a wake-up call for the entire Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). For the six monarchies, the attack underscored a sobering reality: if Qatar, host of the US Central Command at al-Udeid Air Base and a designated Major Non-NATO US Ally, could be targeted with apparent impunity, none of them were truly safe anymore.
The attack catalyzed rare Gulf unity. Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed flew to Doha within 24 hours, as the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman condemned Israel’s “brutal aggression” and pledged support for Qatar “without limit.” Leaders from across the Arab and Islamic world soon convened in Doha under the Arab League and the OIC to issue a collective denunciation. What was once a fractured GCC—still healing from the 2017–21 Saudi-Emirati blockade of Qatar—suddenly presented a united front. Just days later, Riyadh announced a historic defense pact with Islamabad—an agreement that could redefine the Gulf’s security architecture.
Pakistan-Saudi Mutual Defense Agreement
The Israeli strike on Qatar became a turning point. Just eight days after, on September 17, Riyadh signed a landmark defense treaty with Pakistan. While the two nations have shared military cooperation since 1967, the new pact represented a significant shift from informal ties to a formal security alliance, fostering a level of trust unique among Gulf partnerships.
The new pact explicitly ensures mutual defense against external threats, ranging from Israeli adventurism to broader foreign interference in Gulf affairs. Observers noted that the agreement offers Riyadh a hedge against both Israel’s imprudence and Washington’s selective engagement. For Islamabad, they believe, the deeper economic and military ties with the Gulf could strengthen its geopolitical profile, reinforcing Pakistan’s relevance beyond South Asia.
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