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July 24, 2026
Pakistan Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Ships
Islamabad: Pakistan condemns Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday, following his telephonic conversation with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The statement came after an attack on a Saudi-owned ship, ENCELIA, in the Red Sea that caused a fire, but no crew member was injured, Saudi media reported. It followed a statement by Yemen’s Houthi rebels this week, declaring a naval blockade on the Kingdom that has been widely criticized by regional states.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which share close strategic, economic and defense ties, signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) in September last year, which effectively treats an armed attack against one nation as an attack against both and serves as the cornerstone of their strategic relationship.
Tahir Andrabi, a Pakistani foreign office spokesman, said the Houthi attacks endanger the freedom of navigation and global trade.
“Pakistan remains deeply concerned by attempts to draw the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia into the Middle East conflict and reiterates its unwavering support for the Kingdom’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he told a weekly press briefing on Thursday.
The spokesman warned against any attacks on Pakistan’s maritime interests in the region, saying that Islamabad reserved the right to take all necessary measures.
“Any hostile act against Pakistani-flagged vessels or Pakistan’s maritime interests will be regarded as a grave threat to our national security,” Andrabi said.
“We reserve the right to take all necessary measures in self-defense, consistent with international law.”
Referring to Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni’s visit to Islamabad this week, the foreign office spokesman said it reflected Pakistan’s continued diplomatic engagement with Iran. – Arab News
Courtesy Arab News
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