Pakistan Ready to Support Saudi Arabia Whenever Needed

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran, Pakistan has reaffirmed its readiness to support Saudi Arabia if required.

Prime Minister’s spokesperson for Foreign Media Mohsarraf Zaidi said that Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia remains firm. He emphasized that it is unquestionable that Islamabad will come to Riyadh’s aid “no matter what and no matter when”.

Zaidi’s remarks come as tensions in the region continue to rise after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28. Iran later retaliated by targeting US military bases across the Gulf region with missiles and drones, including installations in Saudi Arabia.

Despite the attacks, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed regret over strikes affecting regional countries but reiterated that Tehran would target any location used to launch attacks against its territory.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) in September last year, under which an attack on one country would be considered an act of aggression against both.

A day earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on assuming the role of Iran’s Supreme Leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was reportedly killed in a US-Israeli strike.

Separately, Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir recently visited Saudi Arabia and held talks with Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. During the meeting, both sides discussed the Iranian strikes on the kingdom within the framework of their joint strategic defence agreement.

Meanwhile, according to Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Pakistan is also attempting to persuade Iran to halt attacks on Saudi Arabia. He revealed that Pakistan’s military leadership remains in constant communication with Iranian authorities to ease tensions and prevent Gulf countries from becoming targets.

Sanaullah further stated that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had been informed by Iran that Tehran would refrain from attacking Saudi Arabia if Riyadh ensured its territory would not be used for operations against Iran.

Discussing the long-standing relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Zaidi noted that the two nations have historically “operated on the principle of being there for the other”.

He added, “The real question is what is Pakistan doing to make sure things don’t come to a point where any of its closest partners are further embroiled in a conflict that could potentially undermine stability and prosperity in the region,” highlighting Islamabad’s efforts to prevent further escalation.

Zaidi also disclosed that Saudi Arabia has made arrangements to support Pakistan’s oil and diesel supplies since the conflict began. The crisis has disrupted global fuel supplies after Iran closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz shipping route.

Due to the disruption, Pakistan has begun importing crude oil through the Red Sea route. Sources said a vessel belonging to the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) has reached Yanbu port in Saudi Arabia and is expected to depart for Karachi carrying around 73,000 tonnes of crude oil.

Another PNSC vessel, Shalamar, has also loaded oil from Fujairah Port and is now heading toward Karachi.

Shipping sources noted that the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has affected multiple vessels, with two PNSC ships currently stranded near Karachi and at a charter port as the regional situation continues to evolve.