UNITED NATIONS, 13 August 2026(Kamran Raja): Pakistan has called for immediate de-escalation in Yemen and the revival of a credible, UN-facilitated political process, warning that renewed conflict could reverse the relative calm achieved since the UN-brokered truce of April 2022.
Speaking at a UN Security Council briefing on Yemen, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said Islamabad was deeply concerned over recent developments and the risk of Yemen sliding back into widespread conflict.
The Ambassador stressed that the gains made since the 2022 truce, although fragile, must not be allowed to unravel, emphasizing that renewed escalation would cause further suffering to the Yemeni people and diminish the space available for diplomacy.
Pakistan expressed particular concern over recent Houthi attacks and reported civilian casualties in Al Hudaydah, Marib, Hadramout and other areas.
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar strongly condemned Houthi missile and drone attacks and threats against Saudi Arabia, describing such actions as a grave threat to regional peace and stability.
“Pakistan stands in solidarity with Saudi Arabia and reaffirms its unwavering support for the Kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and peace and prosperity,” he said.
Pakistan also strongly condemned Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mandeb.
The Ambassador specifically referred to the August 11 attack on the commercial vessel Tihamah, which resulted in the deaths of three Pakistani crew members and one Indonesian crew member, while seven others were injured.
He said attacks on commercial vessels threaten regional security, undermine freedom of navigation and jeopardize the uninterrupted flow of global commerce.
Pakistan emphasized that the safety and security of international maritime shipping and the protection of seafarers must be respected in accordance with international law.
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar also reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the continued arbitrary detention of UN, humanitarian and diplomatic personnel by the Houthis, calling for their immediate and unconditional release.
Turning to the humanitarian situation, Pakistan stressed that Yemen’s acute humanitarian needs must remain at the forefront of the Security Council’s attention.
The Ambassador warned that renewed fighting, economic disruption and food insecurity could further aggravate the humanitarian crisis and urged the international community to urgently address funding shortfalls.
Highlighting the need for diplomacy, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar said de-escalation and the resumption of a credible political process had assumed greater urgency.
He welcomed the efforts of UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg to engage Yemeni parties, regional actors and international partners and to explore practical avenues for de-escalation.
Pakistan echoed the Special Envoy’s call for maximum restraint and urged all parties to halt actions that could trigger further military escalation and to engage in good-faith negotiations under UN auspices.
The Pakistani envoy underscored that a Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process, facilitated by the United Nations and grounded in full respect for Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, remains the only viable path towards a comprehensive and sustainable settlement.
“The people of Yemen have endured years of conflict and immense suffering. They should not be made to bear the consequences of another cycle of regional and domestic escalation,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar said.
He emphasized that at this critical juncture, every effort must be directed towards restoring conditions conducive to a political process and achieving a durable and peaceful settlement.
Pakistan, he reaffirmed, would continue to support all sincere efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability in Yemen.