Pakistan backs Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks
• Condemns rebels’ action against Riyadh; urges Yemeni-led political settlement, endorses sovereignty
• Security Council renews sanctions on group until 2027; omits ‘terrorist’ label amid Russian pushback
WASHINGTON: Pakistan used a United Nations Security Council debate on Thursday to reinforce its support for Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks while reiterating its commitment to Yemen’s sovereignty and a Yemeni-led political settlement.
The debate followed the council’s consensus adoption of a resolution renewing sanctions against individuals and entities threatening Yemen’s peace and stability.
The measure also moves to restrict the Houthis’ access to components and chemicals used in manufacturing drones and missiles, while condemning their military escalation inside Yemen and cross-border strikes against Saudi Arabia.
Under the resolution, the council extended a targeted asset freeze and travel ban on individuals associated with the group until Nov 14, 2027, and renewed the mandate of the Panel of Experts monitoring the sanctions until Dec 15, 2027.
It demanded that the Houthis halt their offensive, stop attacks on Saudi Arabia and end threats to commercial shipping, while reaffirming the open-ended arms embargo imposed in April 2015.
Pakistan supported the consensus measure and its permanent representative, Ambassador Syed Haider Shah, condemned continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and called for their immediate and unconditional cessation.
“Saudi Arabia has a legitimate right to defend its territory and protect its citizens and residents in accordance with the UN Charter and international law,” Mr Shah said, expressing Pakistan’s full solidarity with the kingdom’s leadership, government and people.
He described accountability for those threatening Yemen’s security as essential to creating conditions for lasting peace, adding that Pakistan’s support reaffirmed the importance Islamabad attaches to the Security Council’s 2140 Committee.
The resolution, addressing the Houthis’ ability to manufacture weapons locally using commercial parts and precursor chemicals, tasks council members with deciding by Jan 11 what measures to take to block the militia from acquiring specified items, based on an expert panel list.
UN monitors found the Houthis maintain their arsenal through smuggling and diverting civilian-use equipment, reducing reliance on outside supplies.
The council expanded the panel’s responsibilities to examine revenues the Houthis generate from controlling key economic sectors and recommend ways to prevent funds from being diverted to military activities.
The text also reaffirmed that arbitrary detention of UN, diplomatic and humanitarian personnel could warrant additional sanctions, following the death in Houthi custody of UN Human Rights Office employee Mohammad El-Shami.
Despite the consensus, negotiations proved difficult. Britain sought to restore language describing the Houthis as a terrorist group — used in sanctions resolutions since 2022 — but dropped the effort after Russia objected that it could undermine political talks. China, backed by Russia, objected to the proposed list of dual-use items and the expansion of the expert panel’s mandate. References to alleged Houthi links with Al-Shabaab in Somalia were also removed.
Yemen’s UN Ambassador Abdullah Al-Saadi regretted that the council “was not able to agree on naming things with their names”.
Meanwhile, Pakistan stressed that the conflict requires a political settlement respecting Yemen’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity. Mr Shah called for “an inclusive political process that is Yemeni-owned and Yemeni-led” under UN leadership, reaffirming Islamabad’s support.
On sanctions, he emphasised that the Panel of Experts must operate strictly within its mandate.
Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2026
