Pakistan condemns Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia, Warns of Right to Self-Defence

Pakistan strongly condemned continued threats by Houthi militia against commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia, warning it reserves the right under international law to use necessary force to protect its maritime interests from any hostile acts.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said any hostile act against Pakistani-flagged vessels or maritime interests would be treated as a grave threat to Pakistan’s national security and sovereignty.

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Andrabi invoked the UN Charter directly, stating that Pakistan reserves the right to take all necessary measures, including lawful use of force in self-defense, to protect its maritime assets and national interests — language that positions Islamabad’s stance in formal legal terms rather than as a general diplomatic statement of concern.

He said the Houthi threats undermine regional security, freedom of navigation, and the rules-based maritime order, while jeopardizing the uninterrupted flow of global commerce. Andrabi specifically flagged threats against vessels engaged in lawful trade with Saudi Arabia as unacceptable and a violation of established international law principles, adding that Pakistan is particularly concerned by reports targeting commercial shipping connected to the Kingdom.

The statement arrives amid an active escalation in the region, following Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement declaring a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait — a move that opened a new front in the broader US-Iran conflict and directly threatens a critical export route for Saudi oil, especially given the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz further east.

Andrabi expressed deep concern over attempts to drag Saudi Arabia into the wider Middle East conflict, reiterating Pakistan’s unwavering support for the security, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and prosperity of the Kingdom — language reflecting the historically close security and economic relationship between Islamabad and Riyadh, a relationship that has included Pakistani military cooperation and significant Saudi financial support for Pakistan’s economy over the decades.

Despite the firm rhetoric on self-defense, Andrabi closed by stressing Pakistan’s continued commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and regional de-escalation, calling on all parties to respect international law and ensure the safety of international maritime shipping — a dual message combining assertive legal positioning with continued preference for a negotiated resolution, consistent with Pakistan’s broader diplomatic posture throughout the current regional conflict, including its earlier mediating role in US-Iran talks.

The statement adds Pakistan to a growing list of countries and organizations expressing alarm over the widening scope of Gulf-region conflict, as both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb face simultaneous disruption threats that carry direct implications for global energy markets and international shipping routes far beyond the immediate combatants.