By Pervaiz Mughal
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan condemned continued threats by the Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, saying such actions endangered regional security, freedom of navigation and global trade, Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hussain Andrabi said during the weekly briefing.
Opening his remarks with the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region, Andrabi said the Houthis had earlier this week threatened a “maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia’s commercial shipping in the Red Sea”, with reports of attacks on Saudi vessels overnight.
He said Pakistan reaffirmed that any hostile act against Pakistani-flagged vessels or the country’s maritime interests would be regarded as a grave threat to national security. Pakistan, he added, reserved the right to take all necessary measures in self-defence, in accordance with international law.
The spokesperson said Pakistan remained deeply concerned over attempts to draw Saudi Arabia into the wider Middle East conflict and reiterated its support for the Kingdom’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He recalled that after Saudi Arabia was attacked by armed groups in Yemen last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had warned that such attacks had “the potential to further undermine regional peace and stability”.
Andrabi said as tensions continued to rise, the prime minister’s remarks had gained greater significance. He said Pakistan continued to urge all parties to exercise restraint amid growing hostilities and armed confrontations.
He said Pakistan was continuing diplomatic efforts to support dialogue and diplomacy. In this regard, Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni visited Pakistan during the week and held meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, senior officials and the Chief of Defence Forces/Chief of Army Staff.
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