Key Takeaways:
- Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemned Houthi strikes on Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran on Sept. 8 and a drone aimed at Makkah on Sept. 16; Sharif had already offered solidarity on Sept. 13.
- The author ties that line to Article 51 self-defence with limits of necessity and civilian protection, and to Pakistan’s own energy shipping through Bab al-Mandab, citing IMO condemnations including the Tihamah attack.
- The recommended mix is Riyadh coordination plus UN-owned Yemen talks and humanitarian access, not treating every shipping incident as a case for a wider war.
Pakistan’s latest statements on Saudi Arabia reflect a familiar principle in Islamabad’s regional diplomacy, but they are being made in a far more dangerous strategic environment. On September 8, Pakistan condemned attacks on civilian and economic targets in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran through an official Foreign Office statement. That position became still more emphatic after the attempted drone attack targeting Makkah, which Pakistan condemned through a separate September 16 statement. The following day, the Foreign Office again addressed the episode in its official press briefing, stressing Pakistan’s concern over the widening regional confrontation.
This response is not occurring in isolation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had already conveyed solidarity with the Saudi leadership following attacks on civilian and economic infrastructure, according to the government’s September 13 account.
Sovereignty and the Limits of Self Defence
Pakistan’s approach towards Saudi sovereignty and territorial integrity is not only based on diplomatic rhetoric but is grounded in a legal framework. Article 51, which addresses the protection of a member state in case of an armed attack, does not take away the responsibility of the Security Council for international peace and security, but at the same time, it upholds the right of the individual state or the collective of states to use force for their self-defence. This right under the law is not unlimited. When force is used it remains at the heart of the discussion the question of necessity, proportionality, protection of civilians and observance of international humanitarian law. The broader context is also significant as repeated attacks by the Houthis against civilians, civilian infrastructure and commercial shipping are noted in the UN Security Council sanctions regime.
That distinction matters for Pakistan. Supporting Saudi Arabia’s security does not require presenting every military response as automatically justified. International law provides rights as well as restraints. The United Nations has also explained through its analysis of the legal framework for international shipping that commercial vessels retain navigational rights in the Red Sea and that attacks undermining those rights raise serious international legal concerns. This makes freedom of navigation part of regional security rather than a secondary commercial matter.
Bab al Mandab Is More Than a Regional Waterway
The danger becomes clearer when the Bab al Mandab Strait is viewed economically. The International Maritime Organization monitoring page shows that attacks on international shipping remain an active concern. In July, the IMO described renewed attacks as indefensible in an official maritime statement. A month later, it condemned the deadly attack on the cargo ship Tihamah through another IMO statement.
For Pakistan, these maritime disruptions have direct strategic relevance. Pakistan’s reliance on energy imports is high and on regular shipping lines between the Arabian sea and the markets in the Gulf and Europe. However, the effects of a missile or drone launched hundreds of kilometres away can have ramifications beyond its intended target. Insurance premiums may increase, shipping lines may change routes, shipping trips may be longer and energy costs may increase. Saudi security and Red Sea stability consequently intersect with Pakistan’s own economic interests. Solidarity in this context is not merely ceremonial diplomacy. It exists alongside a practical Pakistani interest in keeping regional trade routes open, safe and governed by established international rules.
Yemen Cannot Be Reduced to a Security Equation
There is nevertheless a danger in viewing Yemen only through missiles, drones and maritime security. The UN Special Envoy’s July warning called for the resumption of attacks on merchant vessels could drag Yemen into regional confrontation. Through earlier diplomatic efforts in London the importance of an inclusive Yemeni political process under the auspices of the United Nations was reaffirmed. Similar discussions regarding de escalation and negotiation on political, military, security and economic issues were held in Muscat. These efforts illustrate the central difficulty. Military pressure may address an immediate security threat, but it does not by itself settle Yemen’s competing political claims or rebuild functioning national institutions.
Pakistan’s Diplomatic Space
Pakistan occupies an unusual position in this crisis. Its relationship with Saudi Arabia is deep, but Islamabad has also repeatedly emphasised de escalation and dialogue during wider Middle Eastern tensions. That creates room for a diplomatic approach built around several principles at once. Attacks on Saudi territory can be condemned without abandoning the search for negotiation. Maritime security can be defended without turning every commercial incident into an argument for wider war. Saudi Arabia’s security concerns can be acknowledged while recognising that Yemen ultimately requires a political settlement. The economic case for stability is equally strong, since the World Bank’s Yemen assessment shows how years of conflict have damaged growth, public finances and essential services.
The strongest element of Pakistan’s stated approach is therefore not a choice between solidarity and diplomacy. It is the attempt to maintain both within the same policy framework. A regional escalation would further put Saudi cities and Yemeni civilians, foreign seafarers and energy markets at risk. Sustainable stability demands credible threat of attack, respect for sovereignty, security of commercial navigation and a political path that can lead to a resolution of Yemen’s internal conflict. Pakistan has a role to play in the form of diplomacy, through coordination with Riyadh, relationship with regional capitals and ongoing support of the United Nations mediation. The objective should remain straightforward. Security measures may contain an immediate danger, while political accommodation is required to prevent that danger from repeatedly returning.
Recommendations
- Pakistan should sustain diplomatic coordination while consistently pressing for restraint.
- Maritime attacks require stronger international monitoring and protection of seafarers.
- Saudi sovereignty should be defended within established international legal obligations.
- Yemen diplomacy must remain inclusive, practical and firmly Yemeni owned.
- Humanitarian access should accompany every security and diplomatic initiative undertaken.
