With many Arab nations feeling a rising threat from Israel, the Saudi-Pakistan defense pact announced this week brings Pakistan ¡ª and its nuclear umbrella ¡ª into the region¡¯s security equation.

The ¡°Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement¡± signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday effectively marries Riyadh¡¯s money with Pakistan¡¯s giant nuclear-armed military, analysts said.

Few details of the pact have been disclosed, and Pakistan¡¯s stated nuclear doctrine says that its weapons are solely aimed against long-term adversary India.