Pakistan Backs Saudi Arabia Amid Rising Regional Tensions

RIYADH: (Special Reporter) – Pakistan has moved to strengthen coordination with Saudi Arabia amid growing tensions in the Middle East, reaffirming its support for the Kingdom following recent Houthi attacks in the Red Sea region.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during which he strongly condemned the attacks and pledged continued cooperation with Riyadh to promote regional peace and stability.

In a statement shared on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz described the Houthi strikes as a violation of international law and warned that such actions threaten freedom of navigation, regional security, and global maritime trade.

The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s solidarity with Saudi leadership, saying that he, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and the people of Pakistan stand with the Kingdom during the ongoing security challenges. He added that both countries agreed to maintain close communication to help safeguard stability and ensure the uninterrupted movement of commercial vessels through key maritime routes, including the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Islamabad conveyed a strong message to Tehran, with a senior Pakistani official stating that Pakistan’s leadership had made clear that any Houthi attack targeting Saudi Arabia would be considered an attack against Pakistan itself. The official described this position as a “red line” for Islamabad.

The warning follows the signing of a mutual defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, under which both nations agreed to treat aggression against one country as an attack on both, increasing the strategic importance of their partnership.

The latest tensions emerged after Houthi forces launched missiles toward Saudi territory, claiming the action was in response to strikes on an airport under their control. The incident ended a four-year period of relative calm, though officials said the confrontation has so far remained limited.

The developments are being closely monitored in Pakistan, where troops are stationed near Saudi Arabia’s border with Yemen, potentially placing them closer to any future escalation if regional hostilities expand.