Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounces attacks on the Kingdom and reiterates Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and Saudi Arabia’s security
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned the latest attacks on Saudi Arabia, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kingdom’s security amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
In a statement posted on X, the prime minister denounced what he described as “blatant attacks” against Saudi Arabia, warning that such actions threaten regional peace and stability.
“Such reprehensible actions constitute a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and have the potential to further undermine regional peace and stability,” Prime Minister Shehbaz said.
Although the premier did not specify the attacks, his statement followed Saudi Arabia’s announcement that it had intercepted ballistic missiles fired towards the Kingdom’s southern region by Yemen’s Houthi movement.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s longstanding support for Saudi Arabia, the prime minister said Islamabad stood firmly beside the Kingdom during a critical period.
“Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the Kingdom’s security and stands in complete solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at this critical time,” he said.
He added that Pakistan would continue to support all sincere efforts aimed at promoting peace, stability, security and mutual understanding across the region.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained close defence and security cooperation for decades, with bilateral ties remaining a cornerstone of Islamabad’s regional foreign policy. In September 2025, the two countries signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in Riyadh, under which an attack on either country would be regarded as an act of aggression against both.
Pakistan also reiterated its support for Saudi Arabia during an emergency United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefing on Yemen held on Monday, calling on all parties to resolve their differences through dialogue and diplomacy.
Addressing the Security Council, Pakistan emphasised three key priorities: support for Saudi Arabia’s security, respect for Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the pursuit of an inclusive political settlement to end the prolonged conflict.
The latest escalation comes amid renewed tensions in Yemen, where conflict has persisted since the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention in support of the internationally recognised Yemeni government the following year.
On Monday, forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government targeted Sanaa International Airport in an effort to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. The Saudi-backed government said it wanted members of a Houthi delegation returning from Tehran to travel instead on Yemen’s national airline.
Hours after the airport incident, Saudi authorities reported intercepting ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis towards the Kingdom’s southern region, marking one of the most serious confrontations in recent years. The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of undermining the United Nations-brokered truce that has largely remained in place since 2022.
Speaking at the UNSC session, Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, strongly condemned the missile attacks against Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with the Kingdom while urging all parties to pursue a peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy.