Pakistan and Saudi Arabia sign mutual defence pact, India says it is studying implications

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Wednesday signed a mutual defence agreement under which aggression against either country would be considered an attack on both nations.

India said on Thursday that it is studying the implications of the agreement on its security.

The pact was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is on a state visit to Saudi Arabia.

An unidentified senior Saudi official told Reuters that the agreement was not a response to any specific country or situation, but was “an institutionalisation of longstanding and deep cooperation between our two countries”.

The official added: “Our relationship with India is more robust than it has ever been. We will continue to grow this relationship and seek to contribute to regional peace whichever way we can.”

The agreement came two days after a joint session of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Qatar held following Israel’s attack on some leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Qatari capital Doha on September 9.

Arab and Islamic nations have condemned the attack.

The Hamas members had gathered in Doha to discuss a United States-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal.

The Israeli attack put ongoing ceasefire and hostage release talks at risk as Qatar was a key mediator in the negotiations.

Qatar is a major ally...

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