Pakistan urges Houthi militia to stop provocative actions in Red Sea

The demand came as the United Nations Security Council debated for a second time the growing threat to the vital sea route.

Addressing the Security Council, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said: “We demand that the Houthi militia immediately stop these provocative actions, as they could have serious consequences for maritime security, regional peace and stability.”

The meeting was held at the request of Bahrain. Two days earlier, the Security Council had been briefed on the rapidly worsening situation around Bab al-Mandab. It was told that the Houthis had continued their advance along Yemen’s western coast and had reportedly seized several islands in the southern part of the Red Sea.

UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari told the Security Council that the situation in and around the strait was becoming increasingly tense and uncertain.

Pakistan’s envoy, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said the Houthi attacks were seriously damaging maritime security and threatened the peace and development of countries in the region, especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Calling the Houthi actions against Saudi Arabia open and unprovoked aggression, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and prosperity.

He said Pakistan stood in full solidarity with the Saudi leadership, government and people.

Ambassador Asim said disruptions to commercial shipping in both Bab al-Mandab and the Strait of Hormuz showed that the effects of maritime conflicts could reach far beyond the affected areas.

He said disruption to commercial shipping and attacks on merchant vessels in both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab had made it clear that crises at sea had serious consequences for continents and countries.

He added that uncertainty in these vital sea routes had not only endangered peace and stability but also caused a sharp rise in energy prices and raised concerns over food insecurity worldwide.

Asim Iftikhar said the Strait of Hormuz was a highly important maritime trade route through which about one third of the world’s seaborne crude oil and a major share of the fertiliser trade passed. He said Pakistan was deeply concerned over the disruptions in the strait, including attacks on commercial vessels.

Ambassador Asim Iftikhar linked Pakistan’s position on maritime security to its diplomatic efforts after the war between Iran and the United States began. He said that, guided by these basic principles, Pakistan had played a mediating role between Iran and the United States when tensions started between the two countries.

He added that, with the support of friends and partners, Pakistan had led diplomatic efforts for de-escalation and wider regional stability, which led to agreement on a ceasefire and the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

He said Pakistan would continue its efforts to resolve all pending issues through dialogue, so that normal conditions could be restored soon at sea and on land.

The Pakistani envoy said that, to this end, Pakistan wished to work with all peace-loving countries in the region and beyond to take further steps for maritime peace and security and for the protection of merchant ships and vessels.

In his opening remarks, Bahrain’s representative, Jamal Fares Al-Rowaiei, condemned the Houthi escalation, which he said violated the ceasefire and threatened regional and international security.

He said the escalation had also worsened Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, as civilians were being forced to leave their homes. He said it was time for the Security Council to take a more decisive stand.

Saudi Arabia’s representative, Abdulaziz M. Alwasil, warned that the growing Houthi actions threatened Yemen, regional security, international trade and global supply chains. He cited attacks on Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran in which civilians were injured. He also mentioned fresh attacks on 14 September and the continued targeting of merchant ships in the Red Sea.

China’s representative, Sun Li, expressed concern over the rapid escalation of the situation and reaffirmed respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Opposing attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure, he said the safety of shipping in the Red Sea was the shared responsibility of the entire international community and the rights of merchant ships must be respected.