PM Shehbaz Sharif vows full support to Saudi Arabia after deadly Houthi attacks

ISLAMABAD/RIYADH  –  Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the repeated terrorist attacks by the Houthi militia against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including the targeting of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport, which resulted in loss of lives and injuries to civilians.

In a post on X handle, he commended the vigilance and professionalism of the Saudi armed forces and the Coalition in intercepting multiple ballistic missiles and their tireless efforts to protect innocent lives and safeguard the Kingdom.

The PM said Pakistan stands in unwavering solidarity with the leadership and people of brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He said in line with the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, and recent decisions taken by its Strategic Political and Defense Committee, our commitment to the Kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security is resolute. He said Pakistan also fully supports Saudi Arabia’s legitimate right to defend its people and protect its cities and vital infrastructure.

The Prime Minister said the Houthi militia must immediately cease these attacks. He said Pakistan will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia in the face of these threats.

Three Saudi citizens were killed and several others injured in two attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced Friday.

The authority said the first attack targeted airport facilities, while the second struck a Saudia aircraft. GACA said in a statement emergency response teams and relevant authorities immediately responded to both attacks in accordance with established emergency procedures and contingency plans. The attacks killed three Saudi nationals and injured several citizens and residents of various nationalities, with injuries ranging from minor to serious, the authority said.

All injured individuals were promptly transported to hospitals for medical treatment. The attacks also caused material damage to airport facilities and property.

GACA said it was continuing to assess the damage in coordination with relevant security authorities and taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of passengers and airport personnel, as well as the security of Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation system. The authority confirmed that airport operations had resumed and air traffic had returned to normal.

Pakistan on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security. Foreign Office Spokesperson, Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan, during a weekly press briefing, said the Makkah Alliance for Defence was a defensive arrangement aimed at protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its member countries and strengthening their collective deterrence capabilities.

Referring to the emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah Alliance, held in Riyadh on October 5, he said Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye had agreed to move towards the practical implementation of their collective defence commitments.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir attended the meeting, he added.

The spokesperson said the committee reviewed the security situation and threats facing Saudi Arabia and condemned attempts to target Makkah and Madinah, as well as attacks on cities, civilians and economic infrastructure.

He said the three countries had approved measures to enhance readiness, military integration and their collective capacity to address security threats. He said Pakistan had a substantial number of forces and resources in Saudi Arabia, adding that the alliance would assess threat perceptions and determine operational requirements in accordance with its mandate.

He said Pakistan remained concerned about the escalation in the region, particularly because approximately 2.5 million Pakistanis resided in Saudi Arabia. He noted that the security situation could put Pakistani nationals at risk and reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to supporting their welfare.

Pakistan had consistently advocated de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy, he said, adding that the country remained committed to protecting Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty.

On Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement in the region, Khan said Islamabad continued to support political dialogue and efforts to reduce tensions between the United States and Iran.

He said direct communication between the two countries, including discussions on seven points, reflected the progress made through Pakistan’s mediation efforts.

The spokesperson said the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding remained in place and that Pakistan was willing to continue facilitating a negotiated solution if required.

He emphasised that diplomacy remained essential for achieving regional peace and stability, while noting that its success depended on the willingness of the parties concerned to pursue a peaceful settlement.

Separately, the spokesperson said Pakistan had conveyed its concerns about terrorism emanating from Afghan territory during the eighth meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, held in Moscow on October 5.

He said Pakistan had participated constructively in the meeting but a joint statement was not issued because the Afghan Taliban delegation did not agree to retain previously agreed language on terrorism.

He stressed that terrorism originating from Afghanistan posed a serious security threat to neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan, and said the absence of a joint statement should not overshadow the importance of regional dialogue.

The spokesperson also reiterated Pakistan’s position on Jammu and Kashmir, saying the dispute remained unresolved and required a settlement in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. He welcomed the remarks of UN Secretary-General António Guterres during his recent visit to Pakistan regarding the role of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), and said its presence and role needed to be strengthened alongside efforts for a just resolution of the dispute.

On bilateral relations, Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan said Pakistan and the United Kingdom had reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, education and security during recent high-level engagements.

He also highlighted the official visit of Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani to Pakistan from October 7 to 8, during which both sides reviewed bilateral cooperation and co-chaired the third session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission.

The spokesperson further noted the ongoing visit of Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, describing it as the first visit to Pakistan by an officeholder in that capacity. The visit coincided with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the Holy See.

He said discussions during the visit covered interfaith harmony, peace and cooperation, reflecting the shared interest in strengthening bilateral relations.

On climate change, he said Pakistan was taking measures to address climate-related challenges, including glacier melting, glacial lake outburst floods and resulting flooding in northern areas.

He said the government was pursuing climate adaptation, tree plantation and preparedness measures, adding that Pakistan continued to face significant climate impacts despite being a relatively small contributor to global carbon emissions.

The spokesperson also said Pakistan had lodged a strong protest with India following the killing of two Pakistani civilians by Indian Border Security Force personnel in the Bedian sector along the international border on October 2. Pakistan had called for an immediate, transparent and credible investigation and appropriate action against those responsible.

He added that four injured Pakistani crew members of MT Honour 25, along with the mortal remains of three Pakistani nationals, had been repatriated from Addis Ababa to Karachi on October 4, while the remaining three crew members returned on October 7, with Pakistani missions facilitating their safe return.

Responding to questions about Pakistan’s military presence in Saudi Arabia, the spokesperson said Pakistani armed forces had been present in the Kingdom in various capacities since 1982, including under logistical arrangements and training missions.

He said further deployments would be determined according to operational requirements and decisions by the alliance’s headquarters.

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