Pakistan vows retaliation against any attack on its vessels amid West Asia conflict
Pakistan has issued a warning that it will retaliate against any hostile acts targeting its vessels in the Red Sea, following attacks on Saudi oil tankers by Houthi rebels. The government emphasized that such threats to maritime security will be treated as a direct threat to Pakistan's national security.
Why it matters
The statement underscores the escalating regional tensions in the Middle East and the potential for broader involvement of neighboring nations in maritime conflicts.
Pakistan on Thursday (July 23, 2026) vowed "swift" retaliation to any hostile act against vessels carrying its flag or maritime interests in the Red Sea, warning that such acts will be regarded as "grave threats" to its national security.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi's remarks at a weekly press briefing came after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea earlier in the day. Mr. Andrabi said that any attack against Pakistani-flagged vessels or against its commercial vessels will be "treated as an attack against Pakistan and will be swiftly retaliated" against.
The hostile act will be regarded as a grave threat to its national security, he added, "We will do so in our exercise of self-defence." Pakistan has so far avoided being drawn into the armed conflict despite a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia.
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