Pakistan reaffirms commitment to Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty after airport attack
Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) on Sunday condemned further Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, stressing Islamabad’s “strong and unshaken” commitment to the kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and stability under the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.
The announcement came after Saturday’s attack on the international airport in Riyadh that reportedly killed at least 12 and injured 309 others.
The Foreign Office said in a statement put on X that the attack on a civilian airport was “a heinous act of terrorism, a flagrant violation of international law and a grave threat to regional peace and security”.
FO said casualties are being investigated and expressed condolences to the dead families and wished the injured swift recovery.
The Houthi militia’s continuous targeting of civilians and essential infrastructure was reprehensible and required unequivocal condemnation by the international community, it added.
“Such brazen and indiscriminate acts of aggression cannot be justified under any pretext and must be stopped immediately,” the statement stated.
The Foreign Office reiterated Pakistan’s sympathy with the Saudi leadership and said Islamabad was committed to the security and defense of the kingdom under the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. It also refers to a decision adopted by the Strategic, Political and Defense Committee of the agreement on October 5, when member states committed to the fast deployment of military personnel and capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
The FO reiterated its support for the right of Riyadh to protect itself from threats and acts of aggression. It also encouraged the international community to take a clear stance against Yemen’s Houthis and called on them to end their attacks.
The statement added: “Pakistan will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, steadfast in its commitment to the kingdom’s sovereignty, security and defence.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also criticized the attack earlier, saying: “Targeting of civilian and critical infrastructure is completely unacceptable and is a serious threat to peace and stability of the region.”
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has blamed the Houthis for the attack on King Khalid International Airport, calling it a “full-fledged war crime”. A diplomatic source said the strike was caused by a missile.
The Houthis have frequently targeted Saudi airports, oil installations and tankers since a truce in their long-running struggle with Yemen’s coalition-backed government collapsed in July. The group also said it carried out a series of raids Thursday that reportedly killed three people and damaged an aircraft but it did not claim further attacks Saturday.
Pakistan has consistently said it supports Saudi Arabia amid the rising tensions. On October 5, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye agreed on the fast deployment of military forces and capabilities, during an emergency meeting of the Makkah defense pact in Riyadh.