Pakistan Condemns Houthi Attacks, Backs Saudi Security at UN

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia’s civilian and economic infrastructure and reaffirmed support for the kingdom’s security at a United Nations Security Council debate on the Middle East. The statement came as regional tensions and attacks linked to the conflict in Yemen continued to intensify.

Pakistan’s acting permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, said the attacks should cease immediately. He reiterated Islamabad’s support for efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful settlement in Yemen and backed the work of the UN special envoy to resume dialogue.

The remarks followed a series of attacks on Saudi Arabia, including a strike on Riyadh’s international airport. The conflict in Yemen escalated again after a UN-brokered truce collapsed, against the backdrop of wider instability in the Middle East and pressure on energy supplies and markets.

Pakistan also used the Security Council session to call for an end to settler violence in the occupied West Bank and for attempts to annex Palestinian territory to be abandoned. It said settlement expansion, demolitions, land seizures and forced displacement were undermining the prospects for peace.

The delegation expressed concern over continued ceasefire violations in Gaza, civilian deaths and restrictions on humanitarian access. It called for the ceasefire to be fully observed, aid to be delivered at scale and recovery and reconstruction efforts to proceed without delay.

Pakistan further opposed forced displacement and any move to fragment Gaza and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. It said the two-state solution remained the internationally agreed framework for a just and lasting settlement, and urged a credible political process toward an independent Palestinian state.

The Security Council discussion also heard warnings about worsening humanitarian conditions, particularly as winter approaches. UN officials said large numbers of people in Gaza faced flooding risks and inadequate shelter, while the fragile ceasefire had not ended civilian suffering.

Pakistan said it would continue to support dialogue and diplomacy to help reduce tensions and promote regional stability. The intervention underlined Islamabad’s concern over the impact of the Yemen conflict, the Gaza crisis and regional insecurity on peace, humanitarian conditions and energy markets.