(MENAFN) According to reports, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have formalized a mutual defense agreement, reinforcing their long-standing security alliance. The signing comes in the wake of a rare joint session between the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, where member states denounced the recent Israeli strike in Doha that targeted Hamas officials. Observers noted that the incident fueled doubts among Gulf states about Washington’s ability to uphold regional security guarantees.

The accord was signed in Riyadh on Wednesday by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. A joint statement declared: "This agreement, which reflects the shared commitment of both nations to enhance their security and to achieving security and peace in the region and the world, aims to develop aspects of defense cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression.”

The statement further emphasized that any hostile act directed at one of the two nations “shall be considered an aggression against both.”

India, which clashed with Pakistan earlier this year in a brief military confrontation following a deadly attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir, responded cautiously. Authorities in New Delhi said they would “study the implications of this development for our national security as well as for regional and global stability.” The Indian Foreign Ministry noted it had been aware of ongoing discussions between Riyadh and Islamabad regarding such an agreement.

Meanwhile, a senior Saudi source explained that the pact was “a culmination of years of discussions. This is not a response to specific countries or specific events.”

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