Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan's "complete solidarity" with Saudi Arabia on Thursday after condemning Houthi militia attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
Sharif said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia would continue working together to safeguard regional security and maritime trade.
What did PM Shehbaz say to the Saudi crown prince?
Sharif said he conveyed Pakistan's support during a telephone call with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. He called the Houthi attacks unacceptable, saying they violated international law, threatened freedom of navigation and undermined regional peace and security.
"I reaffirmed Pakistan's complete solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and conveyed that I, together with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the entire Pakistani nation, stand firmly and resolutely with the Saudi leadership and the brotherly people of the Kingdom at this critical time," Sharif said in a post on X.
According to the prime minister, he and the Saudi crown prince agreed to continue close coordination to preserve peace, security and stability in the region. Both leaders also agreed to ensure the uninterrupted flow of lawful maritime commerce through the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waterways.
Why did Pakistan condemn the Houthi threats?
The call came a day after Pakistan issued a strongly worded condemnation of threats by Yemen's Houthi movement against Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Islamabad warned that any attack on Pakistani-flagged vessels or the country's maritime interests would be treated as a grave threat to national security.
In a statement on Wednesday, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said the Houthi threats undermined regional security, endangered freedom of navigation and jeopardized the uninterrupted flow of global trade. The ministry described threats against commercial vessels engaged in lawful trade with Saudi Arabia as unacceptable and contrary to international law. It added that it was particularly concerned by reports that ships trading with Saudi Arabia had been specifically threatened.
What is the Houthi blockade of Saudi Arabia?
The Houthis warned shipping companies this week against loading or unloading cargo at Saudi ports, saying vessels involved could become military targets.
The Iran-aligned group also announced what it described as a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia, raising concerns over regional stability, global energy supplies and maritime trade. Saudi Arabia rejected the Houthis' accusations that it was imposing a siege on the Yemeni people and condemned the blockade announcement.
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government since 2015.
The conflict has triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Houthi attacks on shipping in and around the Red Sea have disrupted one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes.
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