Islamabad, July 23, 2026: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea, describing the assaults as a blatant violation of international law and a serious threat to freedom of navigation, commercial shipping, and regional peace and security.
The condemnation came during a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the conversation was held in a cordial atmosphere, during which the prime minister expressed Pakistan’s strongest condemnation of what he described as the “dastardly attacks” carried out by the Houthi militia against Saudi oil tankers.
“Such actions are totally unacceptable, constitute a clear violation of international law, threaten freedom of navigation and commercial shipping, and undermine regional peace, security and stability,” the prime minister said, reiterating the same message in a post on social media platform X.
The latest escalation came after Yemen’s Houthis announced that they had targeted two Saudi oil tankers in a military operation. Saudi media later confirmed that one of the vessels caught fire following the attack while sailing through the Red Sea.
Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s complete solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, saying he, Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and the entire Pakistani nation stand firmly with the Saudi leadership and the brotherly people of the Kingdom at this critical juncture.
He reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for Saudi Arabia’s security, sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity, while assuring Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that Islamabad would continue working closely with Riyadh and the international community to safeguard peace, security, stability and the uninterrupted flow of lawful maritime commerce through the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region.
The Saudi crown prince appreciated Pakistan’s steadfast support and praised the close fraternal ties between the two countries. During the conversation, Prime Minister Shehbaz also conveyed his warm regards and best wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The telephone conversation came a day after Pakistan issued one of its strongest statements yet against Houthi threats to Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea. On Wednesday, Islamabad warned that while it remained committed to peace and regional stability, it reserved the right to take all necessary measures in self-defence should any hostile act target Pakistan’s maritime interests or commercial vessels.
The warning followed the Houthis’ announcement of a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia and their threat to close the strategically vital Bab al-Mandeb Strait in retaliation for what the group described as the Kingdom’s longstanding blockade of Yemen and a recent attack on Sanaa airport.
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints and a critical trade route for Pakistan. A substantial portion of Pakistan’s oil imports and international trade passes through the Red Sea corridor, although no Pakistani vessel has so far been reported targeted or intercepted.
Pakistan’s statement was regarded as the strongest response issued by any non-Arab country to the Houthi threats. Unlike many governments that limited their reactions to concerns over freedom of navigation, Islamabad explicitly stated that any hostile act against Pakistani ships could trigger a response under the country’s inherent right to self-defence.
The firm stance also represents Pakistan’s strongest public warning to the Houthis since the group began attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea in late 2023. It comes less than a year after Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in September 2025, under which aggression against either country is regarded as aggression against both, underscoring the deepening strategic partnership between Islamabad and Riyadh.
