Pakistan's nuclear umbrella will cover Saudi Arabia, a source close to the kingdom's government told AFP news agency on Sunday, days after the two allies signed a surprise mutual defence treaty. When asked if the deal meant Pakistan's nuclear weapons could be used to defend Saudi Arabia, Ali Shihabi, an analyst close to the royal court, told AFP: "Yes, it does". Saudi Arabia is believed to have played a key role in defusing the conflict. India's rapidly developing economy relies heavily on petroleum imports, with Saudi Arabia ranked as its third-largest supplier according to the Indian foreign ministry. Saudi Arabia has long been a bulwark of economic support for Pakistan's faltering economy.