Pakistan condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and says the strikes must stop immediately. Speaking on Thursday, 15 October, at an open debate of the UN Security Council on the Middle East, Pakistan's acting Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, also reaffirmed support for the kingdom's security, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Permanent Representative is Pakistan's chief envoy at the UN, and the Security Council is the UN body that deals with threats to international peace.
What Pakistan told the Security Council
Ambassador Jadoon said, "These attacks must cease immediately," referring to continued strikes on Saudi Arabia's civilian and economic infrastructure. He said Pakistan's support for the kingdom includes its right to self-defence, and that Islamabad backs efforts to secure a peaceful settlement in Yemen. Pakistan also supported the work of the UN special envoy, who is trying to restart dialogue aimed at a comprehensive and lasting peace in Yemen.
Reports of the statement also said Pakistan urged full compliance with the Gaza ceasefire. Separately, other reports described Pakistan's political parties as united in condemning the attacks, and said the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Oman discussed the attacks and efforts for peace. The full details of those discussions were not part of the material reviewed for this article.
Context: attacks on Saudi Arabia and the war in Yemen
The Houthis, an armed group in Yemen, have been attacking Saudi Arabia, and reports say the attacks have intensified in recent days. One strike hit Riyadh's international airport, which reports describe as the deadliest in years. The war with the Houthis has escalated sharply, and it is taking place within a wider Middle East war.
Yemen's civil war reignited in July after a UN-brokered truce collapsed. The wider conflict has disrupted the region and roiled energy supplies and markets, according to the reports. The statement described in this article is a call for the attacks to stop and for a political settlement, not a new measure by Pakistan.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- July: Yemen's civil war reignited after a UN-brokered truce collapsed.
- Recent days: Saudi Arabia came under sustained attack, including a strike on Riyadh's international airport.
- Thursday, 15 October: Pakistan condemned the Houthi attacks and backed Yemen peace efforts at the UN Security Council debate on the Middle East.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan ne UN Security Council mein Houthi hamlon ki mazammat ki aur kaha ke yeh hamlay foran band hone chahiyen. Pakistan ne Saudi Arabia ki security, sovereignty aur self-defence ke haq ki hamayat dohrayi hai. Yemen mein aman ke liye UN ke special envoy ki koshishon ka bhi saath diya gaya. Aam Pakistani ke liye seedha asar abhi wazeh nahi, lekin wider war ne energy supplies aur markets ko mutasir kiya hai.
