Pakistan Condemns Houthi Attacks, Backs Saudi Arabia’s Right To Self-Defense

Pakistan condemns Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and has once again promised full support to the kingdom’s right to protect its people, land, and resources from any danger.

This message was shared by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, during a UN Security Council session held on Yemen this week.

He said the fighting inside Yemen, along with fresh Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and new military moves near the Red Sea coast, has pushed the crisis to a very risky point.

“Pakistan condemns, in the strongest terms, all Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the ambassador told the council.

His remarks came right after Saudi Arabia reported that its air defense systems shot down a Houthi drone near Makkah before it could enter the restricted airspace over the holy city.

A spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition said this was the second time Houthi fighters tried to target Makkah with a drone. The Houthis, however, deny going after the city at all.

This drone incident is part of a rough week filled with Houthi attacks that have pulled Saudi Arabia further into the ongoing war.

During his speech, Ambassador Ahmad also mentioned a phone call between Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In that call, the prime minister strongly condemned the attacks and warned that they put regional peace at risk, along with serious effects on the world economy and energy supply.

Statement by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad,
Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN,
At the UN Security Council Emergency Meeting on Yemen
(15 September 2026)
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Thank you, Madam President. I would like to thank Assistant Secretary General Khalid Khiari for his… pic.twitter.com/wYJF5we6yJ

— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) September 16, 2026

“Pakistan will continue its earnest efforts at the highest levels to help diffuse tensions and advance peace and stability in the region,” the ambassador said.

He added that Pakistan continues to stand by Saudi Arabia’s independence, safety, and overall progress. Islamabad, he said, fully backs the kingdom’s right to take any steps needed to defend itself.

Growing Danger To Sea Trade Routes

The ambassador also spoke about a major concern — the safety of global shipping routes. He said the widening Houthi attacks near the Bab al-Mandab strait, an important route for sea trade, mark a serious step up in danger.

He explained that ongoing attacks on commercial ships, which break international law, are now putting global trade and free movement of ships at real risk.

Ambassador Ahmad warned that any action to block, threaten, or misuse these waterways will hurt international trade, supply chains, and energy security around the world.

He also pointed out that the calm Yemen had experienced since 2022 has now broken down. He cautioned that further escalation could bring back a full-blown war and drag Yemen even deeper into the larger regional conflict.

“This must be prevented,” he said firmly.

Talking about the human cost of the crisis, the ambassador said the worsening situation in Yemen is adding to the pain already faced by its people.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for restarting a peace process that is led and owned by the Yemeni people themselves, under the guidance of the United Nations.

Pakistan, he said, will keep supporting every genuine effort toward dialogue, reduced tension, and a full political solution that can bring long-term peace to Yemen and the region as a whole.