The government of Pakistan on Thursday issued warning to Yemen’s Houthi rebels that any attack on the maritime interests of the country will be marked as a red line and declaring that such a strike would be treated as an attack on the country.
Pakistan has also simultaneously assured Saudi Arabia of its support and pledging to work with Riyadh to ensure the uninterrupted flows of ships through the Bab el-Mandab chokepoint, following the threats from the rebel Houthi group of Yemen to block another crucial waterway, Bab el-Mandab in Red Sea.
In the weekly media briefings, Foreign Office spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi clarified the Islamabad’s position. I don’t think there’s a thin line when it comes to defending our national security and our assets. This is not a thin line but a red line. This red line is strictly within the context of our national security, he said, adding that any attack against the Pakistani flagged vessels or commercial ships belonging to the country will be treated as an attack against Pakistan and its sovereignty and will be met with a swift response in the exercise of our right to self-defense.
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He said the determination of war constituted threat or an attack would remain a technical assessment to be made by Pakistan’s armed forces, which would remain vigilant in the area. Foreign Office also reaffirmed Islamabad’s unwavering commitment to its bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia, including a mutual defense agreement that had been duly concluded and ratified last year.
According to the defense pact signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, any attack against either of the country will be considered an aggression against both the countries. Pakistan’s latest warning follows a force condemnation of Houthis threat against Saudi Arabian commercial shipping after the group announced on July 20th an immediate maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, portraying the move as a retaliation for what it called long-standing Saudi-led leader Houthi control ports and airports and a recent strike on Sanaa airport.
