PM Shehbaz condemns attacks on Saudi oil tankers, reaffirms solidarity with Kingdom

WEB DESK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday condemned the Houthi militia’s attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea during a telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

According to a statement shared by the prime minister on X, PM Shehbaz denounced the attacks in the “strongest possible terms”, describing them as “unacceptable” adding that they constituted a clear violation of international law. He said the attacks threatened freedom of navigation and commercial shipping while undermining regional peace, security and stability.

The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s complete solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stating that he, along with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the people of Pakistan, stood with the Saudi leadership and its people during the current situation.

PM Shehbaz also reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for Saudi Arabia’s security, sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity. He assured the Saudi crown prince that Pakistan would continue working closely with the kingdom and the international community to promote peace, security and stability, and to ensure the uninterrupted flow of lawful maritime commerce in the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region.

During the conversation, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appreciated Pakistan’s support and highlighted the close fraternal ties between the two countries. The prime minister also conveyed his warm regards and best wishes to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Islamabad warns against threats to its maritime interests

The Foreign Office on Wednesday strongly condemned threats by Yemen’s Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, warning that it would take all necessary measures, including the lawful use of force, if Pakistani-flagged vessels or the country’s maritime interests were targeted.

In a statement, the FO said threats to commercial vessels trading with Saudi Arabia posed a serious risk to regional security, global commerce and the international maritime order. It said such actions undermine freedom of navigation, disrupt the rules-based international maritime system and threaten the uninterrupted flow of global trade.

The FO stressed that any attack on Pakistani-flagged ships or Pakistan’s maritime interests would be considered a grave threat to the country’s national security and sovereign interests. It added that, in line with the UN Charter and international law, Pakistan retains the inherent right to self-defence.