Pakistani Nationals Killed in Houthi Attack on Red Sea Vessel

ISLAMABAD – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – At least three Pakistani nationals killed Houthi attack Red Sea incident this week, as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise. The attack hit a commercial ship, leaving one more Pakistani worker injured. This sad news comes as Pakistan works hard to calm the growing conflict in the region.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar shared the news on Wednesday. He said one more Pakistani citizen was hurt in the attack.

Dar spoke out strongly against the strike. He said Pakistan does not support attacks on ships that are not involved in fighting. He called it a threat to safe travel at sea and a breach of world law.

The foreign minister said his team is now in touch with Saudi officials. They are also speaking with Yemen’s recognized government. Both sides are trying to learn more about how the attack happened.

Dar has asked the Pakistani embassy in Riyadh to help bring the bodies of the victims back home. He also promised full support for the injured worker’s care and recovery.

I have learnt with deep concern about the unfortunate incident involving an attack on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea. According to the information available so far, three Pakistani nationals have lost their lives and one has sustained injuries in the incident. We extend our…

— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) August 12, 2026

He added that his office is watching the situation closely. Pakistan plans to stay in touch with all sides involved.

Growing Threats in the Red Sea

This is not the first warning from Pakistan about Houthi actions. Last month, Islamabad spoke against ongoing threats made by Houthi forces toward Saudi Arabia and ships passing through the Red Sea.

The Foreign Office said such threats put shipping routes and world trade at risk. A day later, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to keep working together. Their goal is to protect peace and keep trade routes open and safe.

That agreement came during a phone call between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During the call, the prime minister spoke firmly against Houthi strikes on Saudi oil ships.

A New Defence Pact

Soon after, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye signed a new security deal known as the Makkah pact. Under this deal, an attack on any one of the three countries will be treated as an attack on all of them.

Dar explained that this pact is meant only for defence. He said its goal is to bring peace and steady growth to the region.

Wider Regional Efforts

The fresh attack took place while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was visiting Iran. He met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during his trip.

Naqvi passed on a special message from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir. He also briefed Iranian leaders on the new Makkah defence pact.

Pakistan and Qatar remain key voices trying to calm the wider Middle East conflict, which has caused heavy loss of life since early strikes on Iran.

Meanwhile, both the US and Houthi forces reported fresh attacks on ships this week. Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will stay shut unless its demands are met by Washington.

Still, there is a small ray of hope. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said talks between the US and Iran are moving toward a possible deal. He noted that recent signs point toward a peace arrangement taking shape soon.