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Pakistan has condemned recent threats by Yemen's Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia and trade through the Red Sea, warning that it reserves the right to self-defence if its own maritime interests are targeted. The statement was issued by Pakistan's Foreign Office on Wednesday, according to Dawn.

The Houthis, aligned with Iran, announced an immediate maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, opening a new front in the Middle East conflict. The naval blockade, if enforced, could cut off access to Saudi Arabia's Red Sea ports, which have been vital for oil exports as renewed US-Iran fighting limits passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Coverage Comparison

Both reports from Dawn focus on Pakistan's diplomatic response to regional tensions. The first report highlights the Foreign Office's strong condemnation of the Houthi threats and Islamabad's commitment to protect its own maritime interests. The second report covers Pakistan's backing of Saudi Arabia during an emergency UN Security Council briefing on Yemen, emphasizing Islamabad's call for dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes.

Key Claims

  • Pakistan condemned the Houthis' threats against Saudi Arabia and trade via the Red Sea, calling them "unacceptable" and a violation of international law, as reported by Dawn.
  • The Houthis announced a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, which could disrupt access to the kingdom's Red Sea ports, vital for oil exports, according to Dawn.
  • Pakistan reserved the right to take all necessary measures, including lawful use of force, in self-defence if its maritime interests are targeted. Dawn quoted the Foreign Office as saying that "any hostile act against Pakistani-flagged vessels or Pakistani maritime interests will be regarded as a grave threat to Pakistan's national security and sovereign interests."
  • Saudi Arabia's Red Sea ports are vital for oil exports because the US-Iran conflict has disrupted shipments across the Gulf, as reported by Dawn.
  • Yemen has been gripped by conflict since 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, triggering a Saudi-led military intervention the following year, according to Dawn.
  • At the UN Security Council briefing, Pakistan's deputy permanent representative, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, strongly condemned the ballistic missile attacks against Saudi Arabia and expressed Islamabad's solidarity with the kingdom, reaffirming support for its security and territorial integrity.
  • Pakistan called for all parties to resolve differences through dialogue and diplomacy, stressing that prolonged conflicts only deepen humanitarian crises and undermine regional stability, as reported by Dawn.
In the UN briefing, which convened after an attack by the Yemeni government on Sanaa's international airport, Pakistan's ambassador reiterated Islamabad's "steadfast support" for Saudi Arabia's security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The briefing came hours after Saudi Arabia said it intercepted ballistic missiles fired at the country's south by the Houthis, marking the biggest flare-up between the Yemeni government and the Houthis in years, according to Dawn.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained close defence and security ties for decades, with cooperation remaining a key element of Islamabad's regional diplomacy. In September 2025, the two countries signed a "Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement" in Riyadh, pledging that any attack on either nation would be treated as an act of aggression against both, as mentioned in Dawn's report.