Under the agreement, any aggression against Pakistan or Saudi Arabia will be considered an attack on both countries.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Wednesday signed a landmark mutual defence pact, pledging that any aggression against either nation would be treated as an attack on both. The agreement was formalized in Riyadh by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is on an official visit to the kingdom.

On Thursday, India responded by saying it was closely monitoring the development. The Ministry of External Affairs stated, “We will study the implications of this agreement for our national security as well as for regional and global stability. The government remains committed to protecting India’s national interests and ensuring comprehensive security in all domains.”

A senior Saudi official told Reuters that the pact was not aimed at any particular country, but rather an “institutionalisation of the long-standing and deep cooperation between our two countries.” The official further stressed that Saudi Arabia’s ties with India remain “more robust than ever,” and that Riyadh would continue to support regional peace.

The defence agreement comes just days after an emergency joint session of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Qatar, convened following Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Doha on September 9. That attack threatened ongoing ceasefire and hostage negotiations, where Qatar has been acting as a key mediator.

The timing of the pact also carries weight in South Asia. Only four months ago, India and Pakistan were engaged in a brief but intense conflict following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 dead. India responded with Operation Sindoor—air strikes on alleged terrorist camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling, resulting in civilian and military casualties on both sides.

Though a ceasefire understanding was reached on May 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi later clarified that India had “only paused” retaliatory operations and that Islamabad’s actions remain under close watch.