Saudi Arabia dumps US protection as Pakistan deploys jets, support aircraft under defense pact

A major shift is unfolding in the Gulf as Saudi Arabia brings in Pakistani fighter jets amid rising tensions with Iran. The deployment comes after weeks of missile and drone strikes that exposed vulnerabilities in regional defenses. With a joint defense pact now activated, Riyadh appears to be diversifying its security strategy beyond Washington. At the same time, high-stakes U.S.-Iran talks are underway in Islamabad, with key issues like uranium stockpiles and Hormuz tensions on the table. The move signals growing uncertainty over traditional alliances in a rapidly changing conflict landscape.