ISLAMABAD (The COW News Digital) Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to the Makkah Defence Agreement and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia following attacks attributed to Yemen’s Houthi movement, saying the developments in the Middle East remain a matter of serious concern.
Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan made the remarks during the weekly media briefing in Islamabad, where he condemned the reported Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia and described it as deeply concerning.
The spokesperson said the incident had caused distress among Muslims worldwide and stressed that Pakistan was closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East.
Khan said the three countries involved in the Makkah Defence Agreement had issued separate statements regarding the pact. He clarified that the agreement was defensive in nature and reiterated Pakistan’s position regarding its commitments under the arrangement.
Pakistan, he added, remains concerned about the widening tensions in the region and their potential consequences for regional stability. The situation around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait was also described as a significant concern, given its importance to international maritime trade and security.
The Foreign Office spokesperson also addressed a separate maritime incident involving Indian and Pakistani naval vessels.
According to Khan, an Indian naval ship carried out what Pakistan described as an aggressive manoeuvre while operating in close proximity to a Pakistani Navy vessel. He said the manoeuvre resulted in a collision between the two ships.
Pakistan considers the reported Indian action a serious violation of international law as well as the bilateral 1991 agreement, the spokesperson said.
He further stated that Pakistan had summoned India’s Chargé d’Affaires a day earlier and lodged a strong protest over the collision involving the Pakistani naval vessel and what Islamabad described as provocative conduct by the Indian Navy.
Khan urged India to refrain from what Pakistan views as irresponsible actions that could further destabilise South Asia.
The statements come amid heightened regional tensions and growing international attention to maritime security in strategically important waterways. Pakistan said it would continue to closely monitor developments and assess their implications for national and regional security.
The Foreign Office maintained that Pakistan’s position is focused on regional stability, respect for international law and its existing defence commitments with partner countries.
