Pakistan Balances Solidarity With Saudi Arabia And Yemen Diplomacy
- In a recent opinion commentary published by Eurasia Review, the complex diplomatic positioning of Pakistan regarding Saudi Arabia and the ongoing conflict in Yemen was analyzed, highlighting how...
- Pakistan’s Foreign Office issued official statements on September 8 condemning Houthi strikes on civilian and economic targets in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran.
- Saudi coalition claimed a drone was entering prohibited airspace near Makkah's holy sites on Tuesday before being intercepted at approximately 6:50 p.m.
In a recent opinion commentary published by Eurasia Review, the complex diplomatic positioning of Pakistan regarding Saudi Arabia and the ongoing conflict in Yemen was analyzed, highlighting how Islamabad balances regional solidarity with calls for inclusive political dialogue.
Pakistan Foreign Office Condemns Houthi Strikes and Makkah Drone Target
Pakistan’s Foreign Office issued official statements on September 8 condemning Houthi strikes on civilian and economic targets in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran. A separate statement followed on September 16 addressing an attempted drone attack aimed at Makkah, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had already offered solidarity with the Saudi leadership on September 13, Eurasia Review reported.
Saudi coalition claimed a drone was entering prohibited airspace near Makkah’s holy sites on Tuesday before being intercepted at approximately 6:50 p.m. local time by defence forces. Coalition spokesperson Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki confirmed the interception, while Saudi Arabia declared any attack on the city a red line.
The Houthi leadership dismissed the Makkah drone claim as a fabrication. Houthi deputy foreign minister Abdul Wahid abu Ras rejected the allegation, while Houthi political bureau member Mohammed al-Farah asserted that Saudi Arabia was facing a predicament in Yemen after failing to achieve its goals.
US Direct Contacts With Houthis Shift Regional Military Calculus
Officials from the United States met Houthi leaders at the US embassy in Muscat, Oman, leading the Trump administration to decide against intervening to help Saudi Arabia drive back a Houthi advance along Yemen’s west coast. During the meetings, the Iran-backed militant group reassured American officials that their 2025 ceasefire agreement held and that US shipping in the Red Sea would not be targeted, restricting attacks solely to Saudi-linked shipping due to the blockade on Yemen.
Former deputy US ambassador to Yemen Nabeel Khoury said that a tacit understanding had been established between the Trump administration and the Houthis. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance confirmed that direct contacts were underway with the Houthis.
International Maritime Law Balances Self Defence and Red Sea Navigation
Eurasia Review noted that Pakistan’s approach relies on Article 51 of the United Nations Charter concerning self-defence, which upholds the right of a state to use force while maintaining strict limits regarding necessity, proportionality, and the protection of civilians under international humanitarian law. Commercial vessels retain protected navigational rights in the Red Sea, making freedom of navigation a critical component of regional security rather than a purely commercial matter.
Maritime disruptions carry direct economic consequences for Pakistan due to its energy shipping through Bab al-Mandab. International Maritime Organization monitoring condemned a Tihamah attack, highlighting rising insurance premiums, extended shipping routes, and inflated energy costs.
Diplomatic Accommodation Seeks Political Resolution Over Regional Escalation
Eurasia Review argued that reducing the Yemen crisis solely to a security equation risks dragging the region into deeper confrontation, as warned by the UN Special Envoy in July.
Pakistan manages these diplomatic tensions by maintaining strong ties with Riyadh while consistently urging de-escalation and dialogue. Sustainable stability requires respecting Saudi sovereignty, protecting commercial navigation, and pursuing a Yemeni-owned political path supported by United Nations mediation and ongoing humanitarian access, according to the Eurasia Review analysis.