Pakistan Will Stand by Saudi Arabia Amid Houthi Attacks, PM Shehbaz Sharif Warns

ISLAMABAD (Terror Monitor) — Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia amid escalating attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces, warning that Islamabad will extend all forms of cooperation to Riyadh if the situation cannot be resolved peacefully.

Addressing a federal cabinet meeting on Sunday, Sharif said Pakistan’s diplomatic role on the international stage was being widely appreciated, emphasizing that his government had made sincere efforts to promote peace and resolve regional tensions.

“We made sincere efforts, but unfortunately, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz deteriorated,” Sharif said, expressing concern over the worsening security situation across the region.

Referring to developments in the strategic waterways, the prime minister condemned what he described as a “bloody game” unfolding in the Bab al-Mandab Strait following the deterioration of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

He said the continued escalation was deeply regrettable and called for efforts to prevent further regional instability.

Pakistan Reaffirms Support for Saudi Arabia

Sharif said Pakistan was bound to Saudi Arabia through an agreement and strongly condemned the attacks being carried out by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement against the kingdom.

“What the Houthis are doing is extremely regrettable. There is no justification for the aggression being carried out against Saudi Arabia,” the prime minister said.

He reaffirmed that Pakistan stood firmly alongside Saudi Arabia and would continue to demonstrate solidarity with the Saudi people.

“Pakistan fully expresses its solidarity with Saudi Arabia and stands with our Saudi brothers and sisters in every possible way,” Sharif said.

The prime minister stressed that Islamabad wanted the crisis to be resolved through peaceful means but made clear that Pakistan would not abandon its commitments to Riyadh if the situation escalated further.

“Our red line is clear. We want this matter to be resolved peacefully; otherwise, Pakistan will extend every kind of cooperation to Saudi Arabia,” he said.

His remarks underscore Islamabad’s commitment to its relationship with Riyadh at a time when attacks attributed to the Iran-backed Houthis have heightened security concerns in Saudi Arabia and across the wider region.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia maintain close political, economic and security ties, with their bilateral relationship including a mutual defence agreement.

Repeated Missile Attacks on Saudi Airports

Sharif’s comments came amid reports of repeated ballistic missile attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, including the King Khalid International Airport in the capital, Riyadh.

According to the information provided in the reports, Iran-backed Houthi forces targeted the airport for the third time within approximately 40 hours on Saturday.

The latest reports cited in the account put the overall toll at 12 people killed and more than 300 injured, with five of the injured reported to be in critical condition. The reported figures and the circumstances surrounding the casualties could not be independently verified for this report.

Earlier attacks on King Khalid International Airport and a Saudi Airlines aircraft reportedly killed three people, including Saudi pilot Hamoud Ali Al-Kalthami.

Saudi aviation authorities had also reported fatalities and injuries in missile attacks involving Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport. According to the reported figures, three people, including two women, were killed and 36 others injured.

The Houthis have claimed responsibility for attacks targeting Saudi interests, according to the information cited in the reports.

The repeated attacks have raised concerns about the security of civilian aviation infrastructure and the potential for further escalation across the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea region.

Strategic Importance of the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab

Sharif’s reference to the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait highlights Pakistan’s concerns about the widening regional crisis and its potential consequences for international trade and energy supplies.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, while the Bab al-Mandab Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as a major maritime passage between Europe and Asia.

Any sustained disruption to these waterways could affect commercial shipping, energy markets and international supply chains.

Pakistan, which has sought to position itself as a diplomatic interlocutor amid regional tensions, has repeatedly emphasized the importance of dialogue and de-escalation. Sharif’s latest remarks indicate that Islamabad wants a peaceful settlement while maintaining its security commitments to Saudi Arabia.

PM Announces Progress on IMF Agreement

During the same cabinet meeting, Sharif also addressed Pakistan’s economic situation, announcing that the country had reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He said Pakistan expected to receive approximately $1.2 billion from the international lender during the current year.

The prime minister also said the IMF managing director had praised Pakistan’s economic policies during a meeting in New York.

According to Sharif, the remarks reflected international recognition of the government’s efforts to stabilize the economy and implement its economic programme.

The expected IMF funding would provide additional support to Pakistan’s external financing position as the government continues to address economic pressures.

Sharif’s cabinet address therefore focused on two major challenges facing his government: navigating a volatile regional security environment while maintaining Pakistan’s economic stabilization efforts.

His warning that Pakistan would provide all forms of cooperation to Saudi Arabia if a peaceful resolution proves impossible signals Islamabad’s determination to stand by Riyadh, even as the Pakistani government continues to call for an end to the escalating regional conflict.