Key Takeaways
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia during a meeting with the new Saudi ambassador.
- The meeting highlighted the strategic and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing mutual defense agreements.
- Pakistan condemned recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, which resulted in casualties and damage to infrastructure.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for Saudi Arabia during a meeting with the newly appointed Saudi Ambassador Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy. The meeting, held on Friday, underscored the strategic and fraternal ties between the two nations.
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz welcomed the ambassador and congratulated him on his new responsibilities. He emphasized the significant progress in Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations in recent years, particularly highlighting the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement and the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance.
The prime minister strongly condemned the recent escalation in Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, which had resulted in deaths and injuries, including among Pakistani nationals. He expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, stating that both countries had always stood by each other.
Ambassador Albugamy, who assumed his diplomatic responsibilities in Islamabad on Thursday, reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship. He highlighted the importance of cooperation across various sectors, including defense, trade, and energy.
The meeting comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeting Saudi Aramco facilities and launching attacks on Saudi airports, oil facilities, and refineries. Saudi Arabia has launched strikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, targeting fuel and energy facilities.
Pakistan has repeatedly expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif maintaining that Pakistan and Turkey had a presence in the theatre, and only Saudi troops were involved in the conflict.
At the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate on the Middle East, Pakistan’s acting Permanent Representative, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, strongly condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia’s civilian and economic infrastructure. He reiterated Islamabad’s support for efforts to secure a peaceful settlement in Yemen.
Ambassador Jadoon also backed the UN special envoy’s efforts to resume dialogue aimed at achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace in Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Houthis since 2015, after they seized Yemen’s capital Sanaa and forced out the internationally recognised government.
Pakistan also joined the call for halting settler violence in the West Bank and abandoning attempts to annex occupied Palestinian territory, expressing concern over the ongoing conflict in the region.
These attacks must cease immediately.
Ambassador Usman Jadoon, Acting Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN
