Pakistan condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, vows efforts for regional peace

• Pakistan backs Saudi Arabia's right to defend itself: envoy.
• Asim Iftikhar vows continuous efforts for regional peace.
• Saudi coalition says it destroyed Houthi drone near Makkah.

Pakistan has condemned continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, reiterating complete support for the kingdom's right to defend its territory, protect its citizens, and safeguard its national assets against any threat.

Speaking during the United Nations Security Council meeting on Yemen on Tuesday, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said that the Houthi military escalation inside Yemen, continued attacks against Saudi Arabia and the latest military developments along the Red Sea coast have brought the conflict to an extremely dangerous juncture.

"Pakistan condemns, in the strongest terms, all Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," he added.

The statement comes amid renewed hostilities in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia saying its air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah before it entered prohibited airspace over the holy city.

The drone, intercepted on Tuesday evening, was the second Houthi attempt to target Makkah, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen said.

Houthi officials have denied targeting Makkah.

The incident follows a week of attacks by Houthi fighters that have drawn Riyadh deeper into the war.

During his address at the UNSC, Ambassador Ahmad recalled that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif — in his conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — condemned the attacks and underscored that they threaten regional peace and stability with serious consequences for the global economy and energy security.

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

Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and prosperity of Saudi Arabia, he said, adding that Islamabad "fully supports the kingdom's legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend" itself against any threat.

Growing threat to freedom of navigation 

The envoy noted that the expansion of Houthi attacks in and around Bab al-Mandab, a vital maritime corridor, represented a serious escalation.

"Combined with continued violations of international law against commercial shipping, these developments pose a growing threat to freedom of navigation and the uninterrupted flow of international maritime commerce," he said.

Ambassador Ahmad maintained that any attempt to threaten, obstruct, or weaponise the waterways will have consequences for international trade and commercial shipping, global supply chains, and energy security.

He lamented that the relative calm maintained in Yemen since 2022 has collapsed, warning that continued escalation risks reigniting a full-scale conflict and drawing Yemen deeper into the wider regional confrontation.

"This must be prevented," the envoy said.

Highlighting the humanitarian situation in Yemen, Ambassador Ahmad said that the ongoing developments further exacerbate the situation in the country, compounding the suffering of the Yemeni people.

He reiterated Pakistan's support for the resumption of an inclusive, Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process under the UN auspices.

Pakistan will continue to support all sincere efforts towards de-escalation, dialogue, and a comprehensive political settlement that can bring lasting peace and stability to Yemen and the wider region, he said.