Dar condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, reaffirms Pakistan’s support under Makkah defence pact

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (FM) Ishaq Dar in a joint press conference with his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi on Wednesday condemned recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, terming them unacceptable, in violation of international law, and a “serious threat to regional peace and security.”

FM Dar stated that during his discussions with Sayyid Badr, he “conveyed Pakistan’s strongest condemnation” of the recent attacks “which resulted in injuries to several individuals, martyrdom of one Pakistani and injuries to five Pakistani nationals.”

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X, FM Dar “reaffirmed Pakistan’s full solidarity with the leadership and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” including Islamabad’s “unwavering commitment to the kingdom’s sovereignity, territorial integrity and security, in accordance with the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.”

The remarks came as Yemen’s Houthis ​vowed to press on with attacks on airports and oil facilities in Saudi ‌Arabia and said they struck the headquarters of oil giant Saudi Aramco. The group said it had launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones at Saudi Aramco facilities in the eastern city of Dhahran, King Khalid International Airport in ​Riyadh and an Aramco refinery in Riyadh, without saying when.

Saudi Arabia has faced widening Houthi strikes over the ​past week, including an attack on Riyadh airport on Saturday that killed 13 people.

FM Dar and his Omani counterpart “also exchanged views on the evolving situation in the Gulf, underscoring the importance of restraint, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy.” FM Dar highlighted “the need to ensure the safety and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, given their critical importance to regional and global food and energy security.”

According to the statement, FM Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to “contributing constructively to diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region.”

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FM Dar, in his meeting with Sayyid Badr, also raised the issue of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), saying that it remained “a long-standing unresolved international dispute.” The foreign minister “reiterated Pakistan’s call for its just and peaceful resolution in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.”

Discussing “the grave situation in Palestine,” the statement noted, FM Dar reiterated Islamabad’s “principled and unwavering support” for the Palestinian people “and their inalienable rights.” He stated, “We expressed concern over the continued expansion of illegal settlements and efforts to alter the status of Al-Quds Al-Sharif.”

Pakistan also highlighted the “urgent need for the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza,” reaffirming Islamabad’s support for a just and lasting solution in accordance with relevant resolutions of the United Nations.

Regarding regional developments including the situation in Afghanistan and the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), FM Dar underscored “the imperative of ensuring that Afghan territory is not used to carry out activities against Pakistan.”

On the IWT, the statement noted that the foreign minister “emphasised that India’s unilateral decision to hold the treaty in abeyance constitutes a material breach of international law.” He added that this represented “a dangerous attempt to weaponise shared water resources,” and threatened the water, food and energy security of 250 million Pakistanis.

Welcoming “closer engagement between the business communities of the two countries and encouraged greater investment in Special Economic Zones and Free Zones,” FM Dar also acknowledged “the valuable contribution of the Pakistani community in Oman.”

The contribution “continues to serve as a strong bridge between our two brotherly countries,” he said.

He added that both sides “reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in labour mobility, vocational training, and human resource development to create new opportunities for skilled Pakistani professionals and workers.” 

FM Dar expressed gratitude to Sayyid Badr and the Omani delegation “for their constructive engagement and valuable contribution to the success of the JMC session.”

He concluded with saying that the “Pakistan-Oman friendship remains strong and forward-looking, and we are committed to building an even more prosperous future together.”

FM’s agree to strengthen bilateral cooperation, intensify diplomatic efforts

Earlier, FM Dar and Sayyid Badr agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and intensify diplomatic efforts for regional peace and stability, as the two countries held the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Islamabad after a seven-year gap.

Speaking during a media briefing in Islamabad, FM Dar welcomed the Omani counterpart and his delegation to Pakistan, conveying greetings on behalf of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the Sultan of Oman.

The foreign minister said the two countries had maintained frequent interactions and shared longstanding historical and diplomatic ties. Referring to the JMC, he said: “The meeting was taking place after seven years, and both sides had agreed during their restricted meeting to avoid such lengthy gaps in the future.”

He said there was considerable scope for enhancing bilateral trade, economic activities and investment opportunities, stressing that regular engagement was essential to achieving progress.

“I promise that in 2027, God will, inshallah, I will visit your great country for this purpose and we will have the next GMC there,” FM Dar said. The foreign minister said both sides had identified areas of mutual interest and discussed regional and global developments in detail during their restricted meeting.

He said discussions covered the “United States, Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Palestine, the situation in Gaza, Jammu and Kashmir and other pressing regional issues.”

FM Dar commended Oman’s leadership and its diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace, particularly its role in efforts to secure peace among Muslim countries. He said Pakistan appreciated Oman’s efforts before Islamabad became involved in supporting the same objective. “So, you did a great job and Pakistan commends, and I personally am a great admirer of your efforts,” FM Dar said.

Referring to Pakistan’s relationship with Oman and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), FM Dar said the countries coordinated closely through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the United Nations and other multilateral institutions.

He said diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Oman spanned 55 years, while historical ties between the two countries extended back centuries. FM Dar highlighted the longstanding connections between Oman and Pakistan’s Balochistan province, particularly the historical relationship involving Gwadar.

He said the two countries had agreed to work closely for regional peace and address ongoing challenges. Referring to developments involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, FM Dar said the two sides had discussed the situation in Bab el-Mandeb and shared similar views on the need to resolve the issues.

He stressed that diplomatic efforts were necessary to address the suffering caused by regional conflicts and instability. “The sufferings are very, very visible. Even in Pakistan, the energy supply chain has been disrupted. The prices have skyrocketed. The common man obviously cannot afford,” he said.

The foreign minister added that the “consequences of the disruption were being felt across the world.” FM Dar called for restoring peace and stability in the region, saying Pakistan and Oman could play an important role in achieving that objective.

He also appreciated Oman’s engagement with Pakistan during the Pakistan-India war and other international developments, saying the two countries regularly kept each other informed and maintained close communication.

FM Dar also referred to his previous meeting with the Omani foreign minister in Manila.

Addressing the briefing, the Omani foreign minister expressed appreciation for the warm welcome extended to him and his delegation in Islamabad. He highlighted the historical, cultural and traditional bonds between Oman and Pakistan and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation across various sectors.

The Omani foreign minister said the eighth session of the JMC provided an important mechanism for strengthening relations and delivering benefits to the people of both countries. He referred to the existing friendship association, business council and political consultations between the two foreign ministers as mechanisms that could drive closer cooperation.

Sayyid Badr said regular meetings would help both countries fulfil the aspirations of their leadership and people. The Omani foreign minister also acknowledged Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting dialogue and diplomacy at a time of heightened regional tensions. “I would like to also acknowledge Pakistan’s constructive role in supporting dialogue and diplomacy in our region at a time when tensions can easily escalate,” he said.

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He particularly appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to facilitate engagement between Iran and the United States. “I salute you for all the efforts that you have led in recent months, and we appreciate Pakistan’s role that has helped create space for dialogue between Iran and the United States in particular,” he said.

The Omani foreign minister thanked officials from both countries for their extensive preparations ahead of the ministerial meeting.

Turning to economic cooperation, he said both countries were pursuing important economic transformations and had opportunities to expand collaboration in trade, logistics, port connectivity, energy, food security, technology and tourism. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening people-to-people connections.

The minister said the potential for cooperation existed, but both countries needed to remove obstacles and create favourable conditions for businesses and investors.

He encouraged greater interaction between the private sectors, stronger institutional partnerships, increased academic and technological cooperation, and more regular exchanges between the people of Oman and Pakistan.

The Omani foreign minister expressed hope that the JMC would become a more effective platform for delivering meaningful progress for both countries.

Sayyid Badr had arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for a two-day visit to co-chair the eighth Pakistan-Oman JMC session, upon FM Dar’s invitation. In an earlier statement, the Foreign Office had said Sayyid Badr would also pay a courtesy call to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the meeting providing an “important platform” to review the “full spectrum of bilateral relations” and strengthen cooperation across various fields.

The Foreign Office had added that the visit reflected the longstanding fraternal relations between Pakistan and Oman and was expected to further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation across multiple sectors.