Pakistan – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – Pakistan has sent a firm message to the world: any strike on its empty oil tanker sitting near Saudi Arabia’s east-west pipeline in the Red Sea would count as a Saudi pipeline attack on Pakistan itself, and would be answered as an act of war. The warning comes as Islamabad scrambles to decide what happens next with the ship, all while diesel stocks at home keep shrinking fast.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik shared the update on a private news channel. He said the tanker cannot stay where it is forever. “We will have to move it one way or another,” he told viewers, though he noted that Saudi officials have asked Pakistan to keep the vessel on standby for now.
The pipeline itself is no small matter. It has long served as Saudi Arabia’s backup route for shipping oil, letting the kingdom skip past trouble in the Strait of Hormuz. But after recent Houthi attacks, the line was shut down last week. Experts believe it may stay closed for up to six weeks.
So what happens to the stuck tanker? Minister Malik laid out a few paths forward. Pakistan could keep the ship parked at the pipeline until things calm down. It could sail the vessel home through Oman or the UAE instead. Or, as a backup plan, Pakistan could try to secure crude oil from Libya to fill the gap.
None of these choices are easy, and time is short. Malik warned that if crude supplies get cut off, Pakistan could face a serious diesel shortage very soon. The country only has enough diesel stored to last through this month and the next.
Meanwhile, the wider region remains tense. The Houthis have kept up near-daily attacks on Saudi Arabia for two straight weeks now. Along the way, the group has grabbed more territory in Yemen. They’ve also strengthened their hold on the Bab al-Mandab strait, a narrow passage near the Red Sea’s southern edge that plays a huge role in global shipping and energy trade.
Despite all this chaos, Pakistani-flagged ships have still managed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This has been possible since the US-Iran war broke out back in late February. Pakistan has actually played a key role as a mediator throughout that conflict, working behind the scenes to ease tensions.
On the political front, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made his stance clear too. His office released a statement confirming Pakistan’s continued and unwavering backing of Saudi Arabia. The Prime Minister also spoke out strongly against a recent drone strike that targeted the holy city of Makkah, calling it unacceptable.
This isn’t just diplomatic talk, either. Pakistan has said before that any attack on Saudi Arabia could trigger the Makkah Defence Alliance. That’s a three-way security pact signed just last month between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan, built specifically to respond to threats like this one.
As things stand, all eyes are on Islamabad’s next move. Whether the tanker stays put, sails home, or Pakistan turns to Libya for oil, the decision will matter for millions of people who depend on steady fuel supplies. With reserves running low and regional tensions running high, the coming weeks could prove critical.
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