Saudi-Pakistan-Turkey Pact Raises Fresh Terror Concerns for India

The emerging strategic alignment between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey has triggered serious security concerns in India, particularly over the possibility that Pakistan-based extremist networks could attempt to exploit Islamabad’s expanding diplomatic and strategic relationships to widen their reach. For New Delhi, the concern is rooted in Pakistan’s long and deeply contentious record of links to militant organisations accused of targeting India. The prospect of Pakistan gaining closer access to influential regional partners has therefore raised questions over whether extremist groups could find new opportunities for financing, recruitment, radicalisation or logistical support.

Turkey’s reported links to individuals involved in terror plots targeting India have added another layer to these concerns. Red Fort bombing accused Umar Un Nabi and his associate Muzammil Shakil were reported to have travelled to Turkey, where they came into contact with individuals linked to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. The November 10, 2025 attack near Delhi’s Red Fort, in which Nabi detonated explosives in a vehicle, killed at least 15 people and injured around 20 others. Investigators have examined the international connections of those accused as part of the wider investigation into the attack.

Turkey has also appeared in investigations involving Islamic State-linked terrorism. In August 2022, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the detention of a Central Asian national who it said had been recruited by an Islamic State operative for a planned suicide attack in India. According to the Russian agency, the suspect had undergone online radicalisation before receiving suicide-bombing training in Istanbul.

For India, such cases reinforce concerns about the international dimensions of extremist networks and the potential for Pakistan-based groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) to exploit overseas connections. Both organisations have been designated as terrorist groups by various governments and international bodies and have carried out attacks against India.

Pakistan’s Terror-Financing Record Remains a Major Concern

Terror financing represents another critical area of concern. Pakistan-based militant organisations have historically relied on fundraising networks outside the country, including in parts of the Gulf. The case of Mahmoud Ahmed Bahaziq is frequently cited in this context. Bahaziq, a Saudi-based fundraiser associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, was designated by the United Nations in 2008 over his links to the organisation. Saudi Arabia has taken measures to combat terrorist financing and prevent extremist organisations from exploiting its territory. However, New Delhi is likely to watch closely whether Pakistan’s deeper strategic engagement with Riyadh could create new vulnerabilities that militant networks might attempt to exploit.

Pakistan’s Militant Legacy Casts a Shadow Over New Alliance

Pakistan’s history of supporting militant groups has long been one of the most contentious issues in its relationship with India. New Delhi has repeatedly pointed out the elements within Pakistan’s security establishment of providing support or sanctuary to anti-India militant organisations. The history of Afghanistan provides another reason for concern. During the 1990s, militant organisations developed extensive networks across Afghanistan and the wider region, with Pakistan playing a major role in the geopolitical and security environment surrounding these groups. The possibility that changing regional alliances could provide militant organisations with fresh financial or logistical opportunities cannot therefore be dismissed outright. For New Delhi, Pakistan’s past record makes vigilance unavoidable.

India Likely to Tighten Scrutiny

Indian intelligence and financial-security agencies are expected to closely monitor attempts by Pakistan-based extremist organisations to exploit the changing geopolitical landscape. Particular attention is likely to focus on international fundraising, recruitment networks, online radicalisation, travel routes and potential logistical links. The central issue for India is therefore not the existence of closer relations between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, but the possibility that Pakistan’s militant ecosystem could attempt to benefit from a more favourable regional environment.

For New Delhi, Pakistan’s history of terrorism and its unresolved links with anti-India militant organisations remain the primary source of concern. Any expansion of Islamabad’s strategic partnerships will consequently be assessed not only through the lens of conventional security but also through its potential implications for India’s counterterrorism efforts. As Saudi Arabia and Turkey deepen their engagement with Pakistan, Indian authorities are likely to remain particularly alert to any signs that Pakistan-based extremist groups are attempting to rebuild or internationalise their networks. The experience of the past decades has ensured that, for India, Pakistan’s strategic partnerships cannot be viewed separately from the persistent threat posed by cross-border terrorism. 

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.