RIYADH: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated his country’s condemnation of the Houthi attack on a Saudi vessel and their threat to navigation in the Red Sea during a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Kingdom’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to SPA.
The two leaders also reviewed the latest regional developments and discussed ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions and promote stability across the region.
The call came hours after a Saudi oil tanker was struck in the Red Sea on Thursday morning in an attack claimed by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, marking a sharp escalation in tensions along one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
Saudi authorities said the tanker Encelia caught fire after being hit but that all crew members were safely evacuated and measures were taken to secure the vessel.
The Houthis also claimed to have targeted a second Saudi tanker, though that attack has not been independently confirmed.
Yemen’s Houthis have said they are imposing a naval blockade on the Kingdom, a move that has prompted widespread regional and international condemnation.
