Pakistan condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia at UN Security Council

Pakistan on Wednesday condemned Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and warned that the escalation in Yemen and around the Bab al-Mandab maritime corridor had brought the conflict to an “extremely dangerous juncture.”

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Yemen, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said the Council’s decision to meet again in less than a week reflected the “urgency and gravity” of the rapidly deteriorating situation.

Statement by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad,
Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN,
At the UN Security Council Emergency Meeting on Yemen
(15 September 2026)
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Thank you, Madam President. I would like to thank Assistant Secretary General Khalid Khiari for his… pic.twitter.com/wYJF5we6yJ

— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) September 16, 2026

“The Houthi military escalation inside Yemen, the continued Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the latest military developments along Yemen’s Red Sea coast have brought the conflict to an extremely dangerous juncture,” he said.

Pakistan condemns attacks on Saudi Arabia

Ahmad said Pakistan “condemns, in the strongest terms, all Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

He said Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, during a conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, had reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the attacks and underscored that they threatened regional peace and stability.

“These attacks threaten regional peace and stability with serious consequences for the global economy and energy security,” Ahmad said.

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

Pakistan also reaffirmed its support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and prosperity.

“Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and prosperity of Saudi Arabia and stands in complete solidarity with its leadership, government, and brotherly people of the kingdom,” Ahmad said.

He added that, consistent with the UN Charter and international law, Pakistan “fully supports the kingdom’s legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend its territory, protect its citizens, and safeguard its national assets against any threat.”

Warning over Bab al-Mandab

Ahmad also voiced concern over the expansion of Houthi attacks around Bab al-Mandab, describing the waterway as a “vital maritime corridor.”

“The expansion of Houthi attacks in and around Bab al-Mandab, this vital maritime corridor, represents a serious escalation,” he said.

He said continued violations of international law involving commercial shipping posed a growing threat to freedom of navigation and the uninterrupted movement of international maritime commerce.

“Any attempt to threaten, obstruct, or weaponize the vital waterways will have consequences for international trade and commercial shipping, global supply chains, and energy security,” he warned.

Call for diplomacy and political process

The Pakistani envoy said the relative calm maintained in Yemen since 2022 had “unfortunately collapsed”, warning that further escalation could reignite a full-scale conflict and draw Yemen deeper into the wider regional confrontation.

“This must be prevented,” he said.

Ahmad also highlighted the worsening humanitarian situation in Yemen.

“The current developments further exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen, compounding the suffering of the Yemeni people,” he said.

“Diplomacy must assume urgency in proportion to the gravity of this situation,” he added.

Pakistan, he said, strongly supported the resumption of “an inclusive, Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process under United Nations auspices” and appreciated the continued engagement of the UN Special Envoy.

Support for de-escalation

Ahmad said Pakistan would continue backing diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the escalation and finding a political solution.

“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.