The Foreign Office (FO) on Wednesday condemned the drone strikes carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia a day earlier.
In a statement, it said, “Pakistan strongly condemns the drone attacks on oil pumping stations in eastern province of Saudi Arabia and expresses its solidarity with Riyadh.”
FO further said that Islamabad reaffirms its full support against any threat to stability and security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirms its commitment for continued efforts and cooperation with Saudi Arabia and the international community for its elimination,” FO added.
Drone attacks claimed by the rebels shut down one of Saudi Arabia’s major oil pipelines Tuesday, further ratcheting up Gulf tensions after the mysterious sabotage of several tankers.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest crude exporter and OPEC kingpin, said two pumping stations had been targeted early Tuesday.
They lie on the East-West Pipeline, able to pump five million barrels of oil a day from oil-rich Eastern Province to a Red Sea port.
The announcement came hours after Yemen’s Houthi rebels said they had targeted vital installations in Saudi Arabia, which leads a military coalition against them.
Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said Saudi Aramco had “temporarily shut down” the pipeline to “evaluate its condition” but added that oil production and exports had not been interrupted.
He said the incident was an “act of terrorism… that not only targets the kingdom but also the security of oil supplies to the world and the global economy”.
Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam tweeted that the attacks were “a response to the aggressors continuing to commit genocide” against Yemenis.
In a statement, the Houthis warned of other “unique operations… if the aggressors continue with their crimes and blockade”.
“We are capable of executing unique operations on a bigger and wider scale in the hearts of the enemy countries.”
