Politics
Pakistan has strongly condemned the recent drone and missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on civilian areas and energy facilities in Saudi Arabia and has reaffirmed its “unwavering solidarity” with Riyadh.
Pakistan has strongly condemned the recent drone and missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on civilian areas and energy facilities in Saudi Arabia and has reaffirmed its “unwavering solidarity” with Riyadh. According to Arab News, more than 70 people were injured in the attacks.
In response to the situation, Pakistani Defiance Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif issued a clear warning, saying that any aggression against Saudi Arabia would immediately activate the trilateral defense agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
The Pakistani defiance minister’s statement is a clear indication that Islamabad considers attacks by the Iran-backed Yemeni group a possible reason to activate its defense obligations under the “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement.” The agreement was signed by the three countries last month. Under its provisions, an armed attack on any one member country would be considered an attack on all member countries.
In an interview with the Pakistani private news channel Geo News on Tuesday, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warned Houthi fighters not to take advantage of the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran and attempt to drag Saudi Arabia into the conflict. He said that if the Houthi group did so, it would be “responsible for the consequences.” Speaking about the situation, Khawaja Asif said, “Whatever is happening in Yemen, if it spreads to Saudi Arabia in the form of unnecessary aggression, this agreement will certainly come into effect.” Khawaja Asif further stressed, “There should be no doubt about this. We are bound by all the terms and conditions of this agreement. God willing, if necessary, we will fulfill all our commitments.”
The Houthi rebels, who currently control a large part of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, targeted the southern Saudi cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran with drones and missiles on Tuesday. The attacks injured 73 civilians, including women and children. They also caused damage to important energy facilities and infrastructure.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Foreign Office strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as a blatant violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty. In a statement, Islamabad said that under international law, Saudi Arabia has the full right to defend itself and take necessary measures. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement, “Pakistan stands in complete and unwavering solidarity with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia.”
He added, “Such cowardly attacks not only threaten innocent human lives but also put peace and security across the region under pressure. We reaffirm our firm support for the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and pray for the speedy recovery of all those injured.” Speaking to Arab News on Wednesday, Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan reiterated the position of the Pakistani government and the prime minister.
In a formal statement, the Foreign Office said, “Pakistan strongly condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the reprehensible attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against civilian and economic targets in the Saudi cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran.” The spokesperson further said that, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law, Pakistan fully supports Saudi Arabia’s legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend its territory, protect its citizens and residents, and safeguard its national assets against any threat.
