Red Sea Security topped discussions between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman as the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation to protect regional peace, maritime stability and the uninterrupted flow of lawful trade. Pakistan-Canada Relations: Army Chief Asim Munir Meets Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand During a telephone conversation, Prime Minister Shehbaz strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. He described the strikes as unacceptable, saying they violated international law, threatened freedom of navigation and undermined regional security. The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia. He said the Pakistani government, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, and the people of Pakistan stood firmly alongside the Saudi leadership during the ongoing crisis. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, both leaders agreed to maintain close coordination to preserve peace and stability across the region. They also pledged to ensure the uninterrupted movement of lawful maritime trade through the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz and other key international shipping routes. The discussion followed claims by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement that it had launched missile and drone attacks on two Saudi oil tankers, Encelia and Layla, in the Red Sea while threatening a blockade of Saudi ports. Saudi authorities confirmed that the Encelia was struck but did not release details about the reported attack on the second vessel. The attacks have heightened international concerns over maritime security and global energy supplies as tensions continue to rise across the Middle East. A day earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemned Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping, stating that attacks on vessels engaged in lawful trade undermine freedom of navigation, challenge the rules-based maritime order and threaten global commerce. The Foreign Office also said threats against commercial shipping violate established principles of international law and called for the protection of international maritime routes. Regional tensions have intensified since the Houthis announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. Last week, Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted ballistic missiles launched from Yemen toward the kingdom’s southern region. Post navigation Pakistan-Canada Relations: Army Chief Asim Munir Meets Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand
