Pakistan vows support to Saudi Arabia ‘no matter what’ amid Middle East tensions

Pakistan on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to support Saudi Arabia whenever required, while stressing that Islamabad was also working to prevent further escalation in the Middle East.

Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg TV, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s spokesperson, Mosharraf Zaidi, highlighted the long-standing relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, noting it has always been based on mutual support and cooperation.

“One thing to really be very clear about right at the top, the question isn’t whether Pakistan might come to Saudi Arabia’s aid. I think both countries, even before the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, have always operated on a principle of being there for the other before they need the other. There’s no question that we might, we will, no matter what and no matter when,” he said.

Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply after US and Israeli air strikes last week assassinated Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials, triggering a wave of retaliation from Tehran and widening the conflict across the region. In response to the strikes, Iran launched retaliatory attacks on US military bases in several Gulf countries, significantly expanding the scope of the confrontation.

Pakistan’s leadership has since ramped up its diplomatic efforts to play its part in managing the tensions, particularly between Iran and the Gulf states.

Zaidi said Pakistan was focused on preventing a broader regional conflict that could further destabilise the Middle East and affect Pakistan’s own interests.

“The real question is, what is Pakistan doing to make sure that things don’t come to a point where any of its closest partners are further embroiled, further sucked into a conflict that potentially undermines stability and prosperity, not just for the region at large, but especially for the Pakistani people,” he added.

He said Pakistan had been actively engaging regional and global partners in recent days. Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Saudi Arabia recently, while Islamabad has also remained in contact with Iranian leaders and maintained dialogue with the United States.

“I think over the past six or seven days, there’s been a whole series of conversations. And I have to say, one of the things that I think Pakistanis really admire is the way in which Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states have actually resisted being drawn in,” he said.

Zaidi noted that some voices in the United States had urged Gulf states to become more actively involved in the conflict, but regional governments had so far avoided deeper involvement.

“We’ve seen all kinds of appeals from some people in the United States and other places wanting the Saudis and the other countries in the GCC to get more actively involved. But they’ve resisted. And I think that, in part, that’s part of what Pakistan wants to see is greater,” he said.

Read More: Pakistan pursuing de-escalation between US, Iran through active diplomacy

Responding to a question on how close Pakistan might be to providing military assistance to Saudi Arabia, Zaidi said it would be inappropriate to speculate.

“It would be speculative and irresponsible for anyone in any position, certainly as low-ranking a position as mine, to make that kind of speculation,” he said. “I said to you right at the top, there is no question that if and when whatever is needed from Pakistan vis-a-vis Saudi Arabia, Pakistan will be there before it’s needed,” he added.

Zaidi noted that Saudi Arabia had also supported Pakistan in maintaining stability in its energy supply chain.

“Both countries are really tied to each other, both formally and informally. And there’s no question of whether there would be any kind of if. Whenever Saudi Arabia needs, Pakistan is going to be there,” he said.

Dialogue with all key regional players to prevent further escalation

On diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in the region, Zaidi said Pakistan had been in constant contact with Iran in recent weeks.

“Over the last week and a half, two weeks, there have been constant conversations between the Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and the foreign minister of Iran,” he said.

“Those conversations, as well as other conversations, are the reason, for example, that you’ve seen some of the conciliatory efforts that Iran has made towards the Gulf countries. We’re very conscious of the responsibility that Pakistan has as a close ally and friend to these countries, all of them.”

Also Read: Pakistan acting as mediator between Saudi Arabia and Iran to defuse tension

Zaidi said Islamabad was maintaining dialogue with all key regional players to prevent further escalation.

“Pakistan was very conscious of the negative impact of this conflict, not just on the country, but on the whole region. And so in keeping with our role, I think we are constantly talking not just to Saudi Arabia or Iran, but indeed to all the other countries in the region.”

He added that Pakistan’s position remained clear in favour of dialogue and against conflict among its allies.

“Pakistan’s core position is we don’t like our friends getting into quarrels with each other,” he said, adding that disputes should be resolved through dialogue.

“And we don’t believe that there’s ever a time, especially in this context, where Iran should be attacking the Gulf countries and where the people of Iran should be withstanding or having to endure the kind of, really cruel bombing campaign that they’re enduring currently.”

Pakistan Navy actively ensuring safety of country’s waters in recent days

Asked whether Pakistan could provide naval escorts through the Strait of Hormuz, Zaidi said Pakistan’s naval responsibility was limited to its own maritime territory.

“I haven’t heard any such discussion so far. If there was to be any kind of expansion of that role beyond our territory, that would be in a multilateral forum,” he said.

He added that the Pakistan Navy had been actively ensuring the safety of the country’s waters in recent days.

“Pakistan is making sure that our waters are safe and that those operations have been ongoing for three days now, and the Pakistani Navy, the brave sailors and soldiers of the Pakistan Navy, have been enacting those with great courage and professionalism.”

Action against Afghan Taliban regime

On Pakistan’s western border, Zaidi said the country was not in conflict with Afghanistan but with the Afghan Taliban regime operating from Afghan territory.

“Pakistan is not in conflict with Afghanistan but with the Afghan Taliban regime as they have been hosting and giving safe haven and support to the Taliban terrorists that have been attacking Pakistani school children, Pakistani mosque goers, Pakistani housewives and mothers and children and soldiers and policemen,” he said.

Read More: Dar reminds Iran of Pak-Saudi defence pact

“There are also other terrorist groups, in fact, a whole alphabet soup of terrorist groups in Afghanistan that enjoy the patronage of the Afghan Taliban regime.”

He said Pakistan had attempted dialogue with the Afghan Taliban authorities for several years but would continue counterterrorism operations until terrorist groups were no longer sheltered in Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s oil stocks indicates stable supply situation despite regional tensions

Addressing concerns about energy supplies, Zaidi said Pakistan’s oil stocks and incoming shipments indicated a stable supply situation despite regional tensions.

“Current stocks and our active contracts where we know shipments are on their way, I think things are, I would say, stable to good,” he said.

He also acknowledged that the recent rise in petroleum prices had put pressure on consumers.

“The prime minister in particular has spent his entire term working with the IMF and taking really, really difficult decisions in terms of taxation rates, in terms of fuel prices, in terms of electricity subsidies and making sure that while we move the economy slowly but surely towards a more balanced,” he said.

“A more sustainable set of metrics in terms of how we price things, we’re also shielding the ordinary consumer and the ordinary Pakistani and especially the taxpayer, both individuals and businesses, from the worst part of it.”

Zaidi said the government had already taken measures to mitigate the economic impact of the Middle East crisis, including early fuel price adjustments and conservation measures.

“Pakistan might have been one of the first countries in the world to increase fuel prices in anticipation of what was about to happen,” he said.

He added that disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had forced Pakistan to explore longer alternative supply routes.

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“Usually, fuel takes about five to six days to get to Pakistan, given how close we are to the region. But because of the Strait of Hormuz, those supply chains are closed. So the alternative supply chains are as many as 18, 19 and 20 days.”

The government has introduced measures such as a four-day work week, increased remote working and reduced official vehicle usage to conserve fuel.

Zaidi said the crisis could also accelerate Pakistan’s transition to electric vehicles and broader energy reforms.

“I think this, as every crisis is, it’s an opportunity for change. And I think the prime minister and his entire team are looking at making those changes to prepare the Pakistani people for, I think, a substantial set of changes to how the world works as we look at what’s happening in the Middle East.”