Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemned Houthi strikes on Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran on Sept. 8 and a drone aimed at Makkah on Sept. 16; Sharif had already offered solidarity on Sept. 13.

The author ties that line to Article 51 self-defence with limits of necessity and civilian protection, and to Pakistan’s own energy shipping through Bab al-Mandab, citing IMO condemnations including the Tihamah attack.

The recommended mix is Riyadh coordination plus UN-owned Yemen talks and humanitarian access, not treating every shipping incident as a case for a wider war.

Pakistan’s latest statements on Saudi Arabia reflect a familiar principle in Islamabad’s regional diplomacy, but they are being made in a far more dangerous strategic environment. On September 8, Pakistan condemned attacks on civilian and economic targets in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran through an official Foreign Office statement. That position became still more emphatic after the attempted drone attack targeting Makkah, which Pakistan condemned through a separate September 16 statement. The following day, the Foreign Office again addressed the episode in its official press briefing, stressing Pakistan’s concern over the widening regional confrontation. 

This response is not occurring in isolation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had already conveyed solidarity with the Saudi leadership following attacks on civilian and economic infrastructure, according to the government’s September 13 account. 

Sovereignty and the Limits of Self Defence

Pakistan’s approach towards Saudi sovereignty and territorial integrity is not only based on diplomatic rhetoric but is grounded in a legal framework. Article 51, which addresses the protection of a member state in case of an armed attack, does not take away the responsibility of the Security Council for international peace and security,........

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