ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has formally endorsed Saudi Arabia’s air strikes against targets in Iraq as a legitimate exercise of its right to self-defence, while simultaneously reaffirming its commitment to fulfill all security obligations with its Gulf partners. Speaking at a weekly news briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated that the Kingdom’s actions fell under Article 51 of the UN Charter following recent attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure by non-state actors operating within Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units.
The development follows coordinated military action by Saudi and United States forces against militia installations in Iraq. The Foreign Office described the escalating tensions across the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Red Sea as deeply concerning, condemning attacks by non-state entities while reiterating that any hostile actions against Pakistani maritime assets or commercial shipping through vital waterways like the Bab al-Mandeb would be treated as an attack on Pakistan itself.
Islamabad emphasized that its operational commitments under the newly active Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia, along with separate defense cooperation frameworks with Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, do not diminish its diplomatic capacity to act as a mediator. Despite expanding its security architecture in the Gulf region, Pakistan remains actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions between the United States and Iran, urging both sides to return to the negotiations outlined under the Islamabad MoU.
In addition to regional security matters, the Foreign Office confirmed that India will be invited to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit hosted by Pakistan next year, highlighting Islamabad’s continued commitment to multilateral diplomacy alongside its defense obligations.
