New Delhi, Sept. 20 -- India expects Saudi Arabia to take into consideration "mutual interests and sensitivities" in the bilateral strategic partnership, the external affairs ministry said on Friday in the context of the mutual defence agreement signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia that has significant ramifications for regional security. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed the "Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement" on Wednesday, close on the heels of Israel's military strikes on Hamas leaders in Qatar, and the treaty states that "any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both". India, which perceives West Asia as part of its extended neighbourhood, said in its initial response to the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia agreement that it will take all steps to protect the country's national interests and ensure comprehensive national security. Asked about the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia pact at a weekly media briefing, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: "India and Saudi Arabia have a wide-ranging strategic partnership which has deepened in the last several years considerably. We expect that this strategic partnership will keep in mind mutual interests and sensitivities." The mutual defence pact came against the backdrop of Arab states questioning the reliability of the US as a security partner, especially in the face of Israeli aggression in recent months, including military strikes on Iran and Qatar. The pact also has ramifications for New Delhi, especially if Pakistan chooses to invoke it during any hostilities with India. Saudi Arabia has had long-standing defence and security relations with Pakistan, though Riyadh has played a greater role in recent years in helping Islamabad cope with its economic problems....