ISLAMABAD (The Thursday Times) — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed that Pakistan stands “shoulder to shoulder” with Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and strongly condemned the recent escalation in Houthi attacks on the Kingdom that injured scores of people, including Pakistani nationals.
He was speaking to the newly arrived Saudi Ambassador, Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy, who called on him in Islamabad on Friday, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
PM Shehbaz Sharif met Saudi Arabia's new ambassador, Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy, and condemned the escalation in Houthi attacks on the Kingdom that killed and injured people, including Pakistanis. Pakistan, he said, will stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia. pic.twitter.com/OZaGLr8OSt
— The Thursday Times (@thursday_times) October 16, 2026
The attacks, the prime minister said, “resulted in the loss of precious lives and injuries to scores of innocent people, including Pakistani nationals.” The statement does not say how many Pakistanis were hurt or whether any were killed.
The prime minister underlined that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia “have always stood by each other.” He said the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement and the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance marked historic milestones in the two countries’ fraternal relations and reflected their shared commitment to regional peace and security. The first is the bilateral pact signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September 2025, and the second is the three-way agreement with Türkiye signed on August 7.
He noted that relations have made remarkable progress in recent years and said Pakistan was committed to strengthening existing institutional mechanisms to deepen and broaden cooperation across various sectors. The prime minister thanked the Saudi leadership for its longstanding economic and financial support to Pakistan.
The meeting follows the Makkah Alliance committee’s decision in Riyadh on October 5 to move to the practical implementation of its collective defence commitments. Attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and Abha International Airport on October 6 and 7 killed and wounded people, Saudi authorities said. Army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said Pakistani troops have been in Saudi Arabia for decades.
The prime minister wished the ambassador success in his assignment and assured him of Pakistan’s full support and cooperation in further strengthening the ties between the two countries.
