Pakistan Backs Saudi Arabia Against Houthi Attacks, Warns of Regional Risks
Pakistan has expressed its complete solidarity with Saudi Arabia after recent Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conveyed this message to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a phone call, warning of regional peace and security threats as well as potential disruptions to global energy supplies.
The call came a day after Saudi Arabia temporarily shut its 1,200-km East-West oil pipeline following a drone attack launched from Iraq. The pipeline is a key alternative route for Saudi oil exports, allowing crude to reach the Red Sea without passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Sharif condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi civilian and economic infrastructure, stating that they could further disrupt the global economy and energy supplies. He also reiterated Pakistan's commitment to reducing tensions and restoring peace in West Asia, alongside its army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
The recent Houthi attacks have renewed attention on a mutual-defence pact signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey on August 7. This agreement considers an attack on any of them to be an attack on all three nations, potentially activating collective-defence provisions in the event of unprovoked aggression or conflict spillover.