How Pakistan Is Betraying Saudi Arabia by Avoiding a Clear Stance Against the UAE’s Pro-Israel Ambitions
For decades, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have shared a bond built on trust, religion, and strategic cooperation. Saudi Arabia stood by Pakistan during financial crises, diplomatic pressure, and security challenges.
That bond is now quietly eroding. Not through confrontation, but through silence.
Pakistans refusal to take a clear stance against the UAEs growing alignment with Israel is not neutrality. It is betrayal. And it is felt most sharply in Riyadh.
Why Saudi Arabia Cares
Saudi Arabia does not demand blind loyalty. It expects clarity on issues that define Muslim unity.
Despite immense Western pressure, Riyadh has resisted full normalization with Israel because the Palestinian issue remains unresolved. This restraint reflects Saudi Arabias understanding of its leadership role in the Islamic world.
Pakistans silence on the Abraham Accords and deepening UAE Israel cooperation weakens that position. Silence legitimizes the UAEs choices and leaves Saudi Arabia increasingly isolated.
The Cost of the UAE Israel Alignment
The UAEs relationship with Israel is not symbolic. It includes military cooperation, intelligence sharing, and surveillance technology.
This alliance is reshaping the region. It does not align with Saudi Arabias cautious approach.
By avoiding criticism, Pakistan signals that maintaining favor with Abu Dhabi matters more than its historic partnership with Riyadh. Short term comfort is being chosen over long term strategy.
The Palestine Contradiction
Pakistan claims strong support for Palestine and refuses to recognize Israel.
Yet it remains silent as allies normalize occupation and apartheid.
That contradiction erodes credibility.
Saudi Arabia has at least remained consistent. No normalization without real progress for Palestinians. Pakistans ambiguity undercuts that stance and suggests principles can be traded for economic convenience.
A Strategic Miscalculation
Pakistans leadership appears to believe it can balance Saudi Arabia and the UAE without consequence.
This is a mistake.
Saudi Arabia is not just another Gulf state. It is Pakistans most important strategic partner in the Muslim world. Trust once weakened is not easily restored.
History shows Saudi Arabia remembers loyalty. It also remembers hesitation.
Silence Is a Choice
In geopolitics, silence is never neutral.
When unity, Palestine, and regional power shifts are at stake, silence becomes complicity.
If Pakistan wants to remain credible as a Muslim leader and a trusted Saudi ally, it must choose clarity over convenience.
Friendship demands it.