Pakistan Backs Saudi Arabia at UN Security Council Over Houthi Missile Strikes

WASHINGTON: Pakistan backed Saudi Arabia during a UN Security Council emergency briefing on Yemen on Monday, reaffirming Islamabad’s support for the kingdom’s security and territorial integrity, and urging all concerned parties to resolve their differences through dialogue and diplomacy.

Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014, prompting a Saudi‑led military intervention in 2015 to bolster the embattled government.

The Security Council meeting followed an attack by Yemeni government forces on an international airport in Sanaa earlier in the day. The government said the strike aimed to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing after it had been unable to persuade a Houthi delegation—travelling to Tehran for the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei—to board a Yemen‑flagged flight instead.

Hours after the airport assault, Saudi Arabia announced it had intercepted ballistic missiles launched at its southern region by Houthi forces.

Monday’s escalation marked the most significant clash between the Yemeni government and the Houthis in years. The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of threatening a UN‑brokered truce that has held since 2022.

Speaking at the UNSC briefing, Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, condemned the missile strikes against Saudi Arabia and expressed Islamabad’s solidarity with the kingdom.

“We express our full solidarity with the brotherly kingdom and reaffirm our steadfast support for its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” Jadoon said.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained close defence and security ties for decades, a cornerstone of Islamabad’s regional diplomatic strategy.

In September 2025, the two nations signed a “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” in Riyadh, pledging that any attack on one would be considered an aggression against both.

Pakistan has consistently advocated for dialogue and peaceful dispute resolution in the region, warning that prolonged conflicts deepen humanitarian crises and destabilise the area.

Pakistan’s Security Council statement focused on three key points: backing Saudi Arabia’s security, respecting Yemen’s sovereignty, and pressing for an inclusive political settlement to end the Yemeni conflict.

“We also reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Yemen, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law,” Ambassador Jadoon added.

Islamabad urged all parties to avoid further escalation and pursue diplomatic solutions.

“At a time when the region continues to face heightened tensions and multiple interconnected crises, we call on the parties concerned to resolve differences through dialogue, diplomacy and a steadfast commitment to de‑escalation,” he said.

Islamabad affirmed that lasting peace in Yemen can only emerge through a political process led by Yemenis and supported by the United Nations.

“A comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable peace can only be achieved through a Yemeni‑led and Yemeni‑owned political process, facilitated by the UN, which addresses the legitimate aspirations and concerns of all Yemenis,” Jadoon stressed.

He highlighted the prisoner‑exchange agreement reached earlier this year as an example of successful dialogue under difficult circumstances, and urged all sides to work toward a durable nationwide ceasefire and an inclusive political settlement.

The agreement, signed in May between the Yemeni government and the Houthis, commits both sides to exchange more than 1,600 prisoners.

At the UNSC, Pakistan also underscored the humanitarian toll of the protracted Yemeni conflict, where years of fighting have caused widespread civilian suffering.

“The Yemeni people have endured years of conflict, displacement, economic hardship, food insecurity and the collapse of essential services. Any further escalation risks undermining prospects for peace and deepening the suffering of civilians,” Ambassador Jadoon said.

Islamabad condemned the detention of UN personnel, humanitarian workers and diplomatic staff by the Houthis, as well as the seizure of UN premises and assets.

“Pakistan reiterates its strong condemnation of the continued arbitrary detention of UN, humanitarian personnel and diplomatic staff, as well as the unlawful seizure of UN premises and assets by Houthis,” Ambassador Jadoon stated.

Islamabad called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained personnel and full respect for the privileges and immunities of UN staff and facilities.

In concluding Pakistan’s statement, Ambassador Jadoon reaffirmed Islamabad’s dedication to dialogue, diplomacy and regional de‑escalation, urging all parties to maintain communication channels and avoid actions that could further increase tensions.

Additional input from Reuters

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