Monitoring Desk
Pakistan has strongly condemned missile and drone attacks launched by Houthi militia towards Saudi Arabia, reiterating its full support and solidarity with the kingdom against “any threats to its security and territorial integrity”.
Saudi-led Arab coalition forces had destroyed an explosive-laden drone and a ballistic missile sent by Houthis in Yemen to the Saudi Arabian territory on Saturday.
“Pakistan appreciates the successful interception of the missile and drone, which prevented the loss of innocent lives,” a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFa) stated and called for immediate cessation of such attacks.
Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had said that Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia remain as strong as ever, rubbishing talk of the latter demanding debt payment as speculation. Oil imports from Saudi Arabia will continue, he assured.
Qureshi opined that Saudi Arabia had bided its time before taking a stance with regards to the Palestinian conflict as well. “Our stance on Kashmir is our own and we will continue to voice it,” said Qureshi.
Saudi and Pakistan’s relations haven’t changed, he stressed, adding that the premier has made clear Islamabad’s position on Palestine, in accordance with the Quaid’s vision.
Last week, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa met with Saudi military leadership and discussed military-to-military ties, training exchanges in efforts to calm diplomatic strains between the two countries over Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir (IIOJK).
Saudi and Pakistan typically share strong ties, and in 2018 Saudi Arabia loaned $3 billion to Pakistan as well as oil credit worth $3.2 billion to assist with the balance of payments crisis.
