Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a strategic defense pact after a decade of fluctuating ties, raising questions about why Riyadh turned to Islamabad now and whether the Israeli aggression on Qatar accelerated the agreement.

On November 24, 2024, 10,000 of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s supporters, including his wife, marched into Islamabad, rallying behind the slogan “Do or Die,” a message Khan had sent from prison titled The Final Call.

Pakistan has been facing a crisis since Imran Khan, one of the country's most popular politicians, was removed from power in April 2021 by a vote of no confidence.