Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the Yemeni Houthi's attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, saying Islamabad firmly stood with the leadership of Saudi Arabia.In a post uploaded on his X platform on Thursday, PM Shehbaz Sharif said “Held a telephone conversation with my dear brother, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, this morning. I condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the Houthi militia’s attacks against Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.

”The prime minister said “Such actions are unacceptable, violate international law, threaten freedom of navigation, and undermine regional peace and security.”Shehbaz Sharif said he reaffirmed Pakistan’s complete solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and conveyed that he, together with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the entire Pakistani nation, stood firmly and resolutely with the Saudi leadership and the brotherly people of the Kingdom at this critical time. 

He said “His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and I agreed to continue working very closely to maintain regional peace, security, stability, and the uninterrupted flow of lawful maritime commerce through the Red Sea as well as the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region.” Pakistan has strongly condemned threats and attacks by Yemen's Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Pakistan also reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its commitment to safeguarding its maritime interests. 

Speaking at his weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Pakistan strongly condemns the Houthi militia's continued threats against Saudi Arabia and the targeting of commercial vessels in the Red Sea. He said Pakistan remains deeply concerned over the escalating tensions in the Middle East, warning that threats against commercial shipping pose a serious danger to global peace, regional stability and international trade. The spokesperson stressed that Pakistan stands firmly with Saudi Arabia and reiterated the country's full support for the Kingdom in the face of continued security threats. 

Andrabi said Pakistan is determined to protect its maritime interests and views the safety of international shipping lanes as essential for regional and global economic stability. He further condemned the Houthi militia's repeated announcements targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea, describing such actions as unacceptable and urging respect for the security of international maritime routes.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)