ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke on the telephone with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday, strongly condemning the recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea as “unacceptable” violations of international law.
The conversation came after a sharp escalation in maritime tensions, when Yemen’s Houthi militia targeted two Saudi tankers, setting one ablaze while it was navigating the Red Sea.
وزیراعظم اور سعودی ولی عہد میں اہم رابطہ#BOLNews #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/SSKVCO8SA9
— BOL Network (@BOLNETWORK) July 23, 2026
Key Takeaways
| Strategic Area | Details & Official Stance |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic Condemnation | PM Shehbaz stated attacks breach international law, threaten freedom of navigation, and jeopardize global trade routes. |
| Bilateral Commitment | Agreed to maintain close coordination to safeguard lawful maritime commerce in the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, and wider regional waters. |
| Military Alignment | PM conveyed that civil-military leadership, including Field Marshal Asim Munir, stands firmly with Riyadh under mutual security obligations. |
Escalating Regional Dynamics and Mutual Defense Obligations
The call highlights Pakistan’s increasingly firm position on securing critical maritime chokepoints in the Middle East that are vital to the country’s energy security. Only days earlier, Pakistan had issued a direct warning over Houthi threats to commercial shipping, asserting its right to self-defence if Pakistani maritime interests come under attack.
This strategic alignment is further strengthened by the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September 2025, which establishes collective deterrence and treats any aggression against one as aggression against both.
