Pakistan

Islamabad, Sunday, September 13, 2026. The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) issued a statement on Saturday condemning "firmly" the drone attacks on the Saudi East-West oil pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions, a gesture that reflects Islamabad's consistent diplomatic alignment with Riyadh in the Gulf crisis.

The text, released under reference PR No. 242/2026, reaffirms Pakistan's support for "the sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and prosperity" of the Saudi kingdom, and reiterates "its solidarity with the leadership, government, and people" of the country. For the MoFA, cited by The Express Tribune and the Daily Times, targeting civilian infrastructure constitutes "a flagrant violation of international law" and "a serious threat to regional peace, security, and stability".

The targeted pipeline, 1,200 kilometers long, connects Abqaiq to the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea and allowed Saudi Arabia to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, which is blocked due to the war between Iran and the United States. It transported between 4 and 5 million barrels per day over the past few months, accounting for 4 to 5% of global supply, according to data cited by Business Recorder and Geo News. Its closure, decided "as a precaution" by the Saudi Ministry of Energy, has driven crude oil prices above $100 per barrel.

Baghdad has confirmed that the drones were launched from its territory, in the province of Maysan, and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has dismissed the commander responsible for the area. Riyadh has indicated, at Baghdad's request, that it has chosen "not to respond at this stage", while reserving "the right to take all necessary measures" to protect its sovereignty. Donald Trump, on a visit to Dublin, has judged Iran "probably" responsible for the attack, without Tehran being formally implicated by Riyadh or Islamabad.

For Pakistan, this condemnation extends a consistent diplomatic line towards a major economic and strategic partner, as the region remains exposed to a possible extension of the conflict, with Houthi rebels having also seized the island of Perim, at the entrance to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.