Pakistan’s prime minister called Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to express "complete solidarity" following Saudi strikes on Mukalla, Yemen, while urging diplomacy to preserve regional stability. The strikes came after a UAE weapons shipment believed to be bound for separatist forces and have raised fears of a new front in Yemen’s decade-long war. Pakistan, balancing close ties with both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, reaffirmed support for Yemen’s unity and welcomed regional de-escalation efforts.
Pakistan Pledges "Complete Solidarity" With Saudi Crown Prince After Strike On Yemen's Mukalla, Urges Diplomacy
This frame grab from video broadcast by Saudi state television on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, shows what the kingdom describes as a shipment of weapons and armored vehicles coming from the United Arab Emirates, at Mukalla, Yemen. (Saudi state television via AP)
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif phoned Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday to convey Islamabad’s “complete solidarity” after Saudi forces struck the southern Yemeni port city of Mukalla earlier this week, the prime minister’s office said.
In the official statement, Sharif stressed the importance of preserving regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepen long-standing fraternal ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, ties that the statement said have “attained new heights in recent months.”
Crown Prince Mohammed thanked Sharif for the call and reiterated Saudi Arabia’s interest in expanding cooperation with Pakistan across areas of mutual concern. The statement added that the crown prince intends to make an official visit to Pakistan next year.
Saudi forces struck Mukalla on Tuesday after the arrival of a weapons shipment from the United Arab Emirates that officials believe was destined for separatist groups. The strike followed heightened tensions tied to advances by the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council in Yemen’s ongoing conflict.
The escalation raised concerns that a new front could open in Yemen’s decade-long war, with the potential for clashes between forces opposing the Iranian-backed Houthi movement. Observers say such intra-coalition confrontations risk further destabilizing the country and the wider region.
Pakistan — which maintains close relations with both Saudi Arabia and the UAE — has been placed in a delicate diplomatic position since tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi intensified this week. Sharif telephoned the crown prince a day after meeting UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Rahim Yar Khan; Pakistani officials said that meeting aimed to defuse the recent tensions.
Islamabad and Riyadh signed a mutual defense agreement in September that treats an attack on one country as an attack on both, underscoring deep economic, religious and security ties. The UAE has also provided financial support to Pakistan: in 2024 Islamabad said Abu Dhabi had pledged up to $10 billion in investments.
Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern about renewed violence in Yemen and warned that unilateral actions by any Yemeni faction could further escalate the conflict and destabilize the region. The ministry reiterated Pakistan’s support for Saudi security, for Yemen’s unity and territorial integrity, and welcomed regional efforts to de-escalate tensions and restore stability.
Saudi Arabia remains a major supplier of oil to Pakistan and has extended billions in financial assistance to help Islamabad manage its economic challenges in recent years.
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