Pakistan has strongly condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia while calling for urgent de-escalation and a renewed UN-led political process to prevent Yemen from sliding back into full-scale war.
Addressing an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Yemen late Tuesday, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said the worsening conflict had reached an “extremely dangerous juncture.”
“Pakistan condemns, in the strongest terms, all Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Ahmad said, reaffirming Islamabad’s “unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and prosperity of Saudi Arabia.”
He said Pakistan supported Saudi Arabia’s “legitimate right”, consistent with the UN Charter and international law, to take necessary measures to defend its territory, protect its citizens and safeguard national assets against threats.
Ahmad also raised concern over the expansion of Houthi attacks in and around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, describing developments around the strategically important maritime corridor as “a serious escalation.”
He warned that attacks affecting commercial shipping threatened freedom of navigation and the uninterrupted movement of international maritime trade.
“Any attempt to threaten, obstruct, or weaponise the vital waterways will have consequences for international trade and commercial shipping, global supply chains, and energy security,” Ahmad said.
The ambassador noted that the Security Council was meeting on Yemen for the second time in less than a week, which he said demonstrated “the urgency and gravity of the rapidly deteriorating situation.”
He warned that the relative calm maintained in Yemen since 2022 had now collapsed, raising the danger of a much broader conflict.
“Continued escalation risks reigniting a full-scale conflict and drawing Yemen deeper into the wider regional confrontation. This must be prevented,” Ahmad said.
Pakistan called for diplomacy to be given greater urgency and backed the resumption of an inclusive, Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process under UN auspices.
Ahmad said Islamabad would continue supporting efforts towards de-escalation, dialogue and a comprehensive political settlement capable of bringing lasting peace and stability to Yemen and the wider region.