On Thursday, Pakistan expressed its support for Saudi Arabia’s air strikes in Iraq, viewing them as an exercise of self-defense, while also reaffirming its commitment to all defense agreements with its Gulf partners. The nation emphasized that these commitments do not undermine Islamabad’s role as a mediator in the Iran-US conflict.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated during the weekly media briefing, “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, and we respect that right.”
These comments followed coordinated strikes by Saudi Arabia and the United States against Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Units, which were accused of launching attacks on Saudi oil facilities.
Addressing the regional situation, Mr. Andrabi remarked, “The developments in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Red Sea are concerning. The attacks, especially those by non-state actors against Saudi Arabia, are completely condemnable.”
These statements build upon Pakistan’s warning from the previous week, after Yemen’s Houthi rebels declared a maritime blockade targeting shipping associated with Saudi Arabia.
At that time, Islamabad labeled attacks on Pakistani maritime interests as a “red line,” cautioning that any hostile actions against Pakistani-flagged vessels or commercial shipping would be regarded as an attack on Pakistan. The country also reiterated its commitment to the security of Saudi Arabia and the uninterrupted flow of lawful maritime trade through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb.