Pakistan has condemned Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, warning that any hostile action against its vessels or maritime interests could prompt measures in self-defence.
The Foreign Office said on Wednesday that the threats endangered regional security, freedom of navigation and the uninterrupted movement of global trade. It described attempts to intimidate ships trading lawfully with Saudi Arabia as unacceptable and contrary to international law.
Islamabad also said any attack on a Pakistani-flagged vessel, or other Pakistani maritime interests, would be treated as a grave threat to national security and sovereign rights. It reserved the right to take all necessary measures, including the lawful use of force, under the United Nations Charter.
The unusually firm statement reflected growing concern that the conflict surrounding Iran could spread across two of the world’s most important energy corridors. The Houthis announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia on Monday and warned shipping companies against using Saudi ports or passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The group said the measure was retaliation for what it described as a Saudi blockade of Yemen and adopted the principle of “an eye for an eye”. Saudi Arabia rejected the declaration and said protective measures had been introduced for commercial vessels using the narrow waterway between Yemen and Djibouti.
The confrontation escalated on Thursday when the Houthis claimed missile and drone attacks on two Saudi oil tankers, Encelia and Layla. A fire broke out on the bow of Encelia after it was struck near the Saudi port of Jizan, although the crew was reported safe. The circumstances surrounding Layla were less clear.
The attacks followed signs that shipowners were already responding to the Houthi warning. Several tankers changed direction in the Red Sea, while others abandoned voyages towards Saudi ports. Traffic through Bab el-Mandeb fell to 29 vessel crossings on Tuesday from 44 two days earlier, underlining how threats alone can disrupt maritime activity.
Pakistan said it was deeply concerned by efforts to draw Saudi Arabia into the wider Middle East conflict. It reaffirmed support for the kingdom’s security, sovereignty, territorial integrity and economic stability, while urging all parties to pursue diplomacy and de-escalation.
The statement carries added weight because Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained close military and economic ties for decades. Saudi Arabia is a major oil supplier to Pakistan and has repeatedly provided financial support during periods of pressure on Islamabad’s foreign exchange reserves.
The countries signed a mutual strategic defence agreement last year, declaring that aggression against either state would be regarded as aggression against both. The arrangement strengthened an established security partnership that has included military training, defence consultations and the deployment of Pakistani personnel in the kingdom.
Pakistan has not indicated that the agreement has been activated over the Houthi blockade. Its warning, however, signals that Islamabad considers maritime attacks capable of threatening its own interests, rather than solely those of Saudi Arabia.
Bab el-Mandeb has become more important to energy markets because traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely restricted by the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Saudi Arabia has redirected large volumes of crude through its east-west pipeline to the Red Sea terminal at Yanbu.
Oil shipments from Yanbu have risen to about four million barrels a day, compared with less than one million barrels a day during the corresponding period last year. Vessels carrying that oil towards Asia must pass through Bab el-Mandeb, while cargoes heading to Europe move north through the Suez Canal.
Roughly 7.4 million barrels a day of petroleum products passed through Bab el-Mandeb in June, equivalent to about 7% of global oil production. A sustained closure could force ships around the Cape of Good Hope, adding thousands of kilometres to voyages and raising fuel, insurance and freight costs.
The Red Sea had already suffered a prolonged shipping downturn after Houthi forces began targeting vessels in late 2023 during the Gaza war. Major carriers diverted ships around Africa, reducing Suez Canal traffic and cutting revenues for Egypt. Some companies had started restoring services after attacks subsided, but the Saudi blockade threat has revived concerns over crew safety and insurance cover.
The United States has also condemned the Houthi action, arguing that restrictions in the Red Sea would compound disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington has previously led naval patrols and conducted strikes against Houthi missile, drone and radar facilities in Yemen.
