Pakistan 'strongly' condemns Houthi drone strikes on Saudi Arabia

Islamabad expresses solidarity with Riyadh and calls for all parties to engage in peaceful dialogue

Pakistan on Tuesday strongly condemned fresh missile and drone strikes by Yemen’s Houthis on Saudi Arabia, terming it “a violation of the Kingdom's sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

The rebel group last week said it aimed a number of drones at Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport and put it out of action for several hours.

A Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said it had intercepted and destroyed an explosive drone aimed at civilian targets in the south of the kingdom.

“We commend how Saudi Arabia's successful defensive actions prevented loss of many innocent civilian lives. Pakistan expresses full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and supports the Kingdom's right to defend itself against aggression,” said foreign office in a statement.

Pakistan has consistently urged all parties to the conflict in Yemen to engage in a meaningful and peaceful dialogue to end the hostilities, in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 2216, it added.

The FO statement appreciated the positive step taken by the Saudi-led coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen after it unilaterally declared ceasefire earlier this year.

“It is, however, regrettable that this step was not reciprocated positively.”

The ministry statement also expressed deep concern over recent escalation of conflict in Yemen saying the city of Marib is threatened by the Houthi militias.

“We believe that if military conflict engulfs Marib, it will result in a serious humanitarian catastrophe. This will further compound the existing precarious humanitarian situation in the country that has already seen countless deaths and injuries, and millions displaced,” read the communiqué.

It urged all parties particularly the Houthis, to cease military actions, engage in a serious dialogue to end the conflict on the basis of the relevant UNSC resolutions and respond positively to the proposals made by Martin Griffith, the United Nation's Special Envoy to Yemen.

“Pakistan believes that war serves no purpose, and all issues can be resolved through peaceful dialogue,” said the official statement, adding that dialogue will save thousands of innocent lives, as well as the future of the Yemeni people.