Saudi Arabia and UAE endorse Japan’s Asian oil initiative

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the recent Houthi assaults on Saudi Arabia, emphasizing Pakistan's dedication to the Gulf nation's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. The pact, which also involves Turkey, was inked on August 7 to bolster collective defense and equip its signatories to regard an attack on one as an attack on all.

In a post on X, the prime minister condemned the strikes that targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport, stating that they resulted in civilian casualties. He praised the "vigilance and professionalism" of the Saudi armed forces and the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen for intercepting ballistic missiles.

PM Shehbaz pledged unwavering solidarity with Saudi Arabia, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to the kingdom's safety. He urged the Houthis to cease their attacks immediately and emphasized that Pakistan will support Saudi Arabia's right to self-defense. On Thursday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile strike against the Saudi capital's main international airport, one of several attacks the group has launched against the kingdom.

Tensions escalated further as the Houthis declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia and targeted its ships in the Red Sea. Both parties have asserted ownership of various strikes, maintaining heightened tensions. On Wednesday, Saudi authorities reported three fatalities and 36 injuries following attacks on two of the kingdom's international airports, with the Saudi-led coalition asserting that it neutralized the missile launch platform used in the Riyadh attack.

The Houthis, who hold most of northwest Yemen, have been clashing with Saudi-backed forces since the civil war reignited in July, capturing large swathes of coastal territory. Despite Yemen's internationally recognized government declaring a major counter-offensive and pushing Houthi fighters out of strategic areas on the Red Sea and Mocha port city, military sources from both sides have not reported significant changes in the battlefield.

Pakistan has consistently shown solidarity with Saudi Arabia, agreeing to deploy military forces during an emergency Makkah Defence Alliance meeting in Riyadh on October 5. While Pakistan's troops are not engaged in combat operations, both Turkey and Pakistan are present on the battlefield. Pakistan's commitment to Saudi Arabia is deemed unconditional, with Defense Minister Khawaja Asif reiterating that Islamabad will go "any extent" to defend the Gulf state and stand by the kingdom diplomatically and practically against Yemen's Houthi rebels.