Pakistan: We will go 'as far as possible' in defending Saudi Arabia

Washington, DC – Agencies: The spokesperson for the Pakistani military announced that his country “will go to the furthest extent” in defending its ally, Saudi Arabia. In early August, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey signed the “Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense,” which obligates the three countries to the principle of mutual defense in the event that any of them is attacked.

Ahmed Shafiq Chaudhry, the spokesperson for the Pakistani military, stated in an interview with the English-language Saudi newspaper Arab News that his country supports the Kingdom “diplomatically and practically,” adding, “We will go to the furthest extent for the security of the Two Holy Mosques and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Meanwhile, members of the UN Security Council condemned the attacks launched by Houthi militias on Saudi Arabia “in the strongest terms,” stating that they “have caused damage to civilians and energy infrastructure, and resulted in casualties among civilians, including women and children.”

In a press statement issued early yesterday, Security Council members referred to their statement issued on August 7, in which they condemned the missile attacks launched by the Houthis on Saudi Arabia and attacks on commercial ships. The members renewed their condemnation of attacks and threats against commercial navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety of commercial ships and their crews.

Security Council members also stressed the importance of acting in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and respecting navigational rights and freedoms. They called on the Houthi group to immediately cease its military escalation and attacks affecting civilians and civilian objects, emphasizing the importance of full implementation of the Council’s Resolution 2216 (2015) and subsequent resolutions.

They expressed deep concern over reports indicating that civilians have been killed and injured, and that at least 125,000 people have been displaced across Yemen since the beginning of September, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as well as the destruction of civilian objects and infrastructure due to Houthi attacks.

Security Council members stressed that continued escalation will worsen the already difficult situation in Yemen and may cause further displacement of civilians, warning that Houthi military escalation in Yemen, continued attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and attacks and threats targeting international shipping in the Red Sea are all factors that threaten to expand the conflict, undermine maritime security and international trade, and jeopardize regional and international efforts to achieve peace in Yemen.

Council members expressed their solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the face of attacks affecting civilians and civilian objects on its territory, and affirmed its inherent right to self-defense in accordance with international law. They renewed their support for the Yemeni government and their strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Yemen.

They affirmed that sustainable peace in Yemen can only be achieved through dialogue, not through coercion or the use of force. They reaffirmed their support for UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg in his efforts to reach an inclusive negotiated political settlement, led and owned by Yemenis, based on agreed references and in line with Security Council resolutions. They called on all parties to engage constructively in UN efforts in this regard.