Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has pledged Pakistan’s full backing for Saudi Arabia in defending its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, according to a statement issued by the PM Office on Friday. The message came as Houthi attacks on the kingdom escalated.
The assurance was conveyed when Saudi Arabia’s newly arrived ambassador, Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy, called on the premier in Islamabad. Welcoming him, Shehbaz congratulated the envoy on taking up his new role and wished him success in his diplomatic work, the statement said.
Shehbaz Sharif meets new Saudi ambassador in Islamabad
During the meeting, the premier said relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had made notable progress in recent years. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening existing institutional mechanisms, with the aim of broadening bilateral cooperation across several sectors.
Houthi attacks on Saudi airports, ports and oil sites
The statement said Shehbaz strongly condemned the recent escalation in Houthi attacks, which had caused loss of lives and injuries to many civilians, including Pakistani nationals. A day earlier, the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen said the Houthis had attempted to attack dozens of Saudi airports, ports and oil facilities as fighting intensified.
Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki told a press conference that the Houthis had launched 20 attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh this month, killing 17 people and wounding 333 others. The airport is one of the kingdom’s main international aviation hubs, and the coalition described it as part of a series of attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Defence pacts and economic support cited by Islamabad
Shehbaz told the envoy that Islamabad and Riyadh had always stood by each other. He said the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement and the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance were historic milestones in their long-standing fraternal relations, reflecting a shared commitment to regional peace and security.
The premier also thanked the Saudi leadership for its long-standing economic and financial support to Pakistan. He wished the ambassador every success and offered Pakistan’s full support and cooperation in strengthening the ties between the two countries.
