Pak vows retaliation against any attack on its vessels

Pakistan on Thursday vowed “swift” retaliation to any hostile act against vessels carrying its flag or maritime interests in the Red Sea, warning that such acts will be regarded as “grave threats” to its national security.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi’s remarks at a weekly press briefing came after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea earlier in the day.

Andrabi said that any attack against Pakistani-flagged vessels or against its commercial vessels will be “treated as an attack against Pakistan and will be swiftly retaliated” against. The hostile act will be regarded as a grave threat to its national security, he said, adding: “We will do so in our exercise of self-defence.”

Pakistan has so far avoided being drawn into the armed conflict despite a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia.

Andrabi “unequivocally” condemned the continued threat by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, saying this endangers regional security, freedom of navigation and global trade.