Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned the drone attacks on oil pumping stations in Eastern province of Saudi Arabia, which the Kingdom called a "cowardly" act by Yemen's Houthis. "Pakistan expresses its solidarity with Saudi Arabia and reiterates its full support against any threat to stability and security of the Kingdom," Foreign Office said in a statement. The Foreign Office further stated: "Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirms its commitment for continued efforts and cooperation with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the international community for its elimination."
On Tuesday, Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia Khalid A Al Falih, said in a statement that on Tuesday between 6:00am to 6:30am pump stations number 8 and 9 on the East-West pipeline, which carries Saudi oil from the eastern province to Yanbu port, were attacked by armed drones. The attack ignited a fire that caused minor damage to pump station No. 8, but it was eventually brought under control, he added.
Terming the attack as "cowardly," the Saudi minister said: "These attacks prove again that it is important for us to face terrorist entities, including the Houthi militias in Yemen that are backed by Iran."
Pakistan, which is pursuing 'neutrality' in the conflict inside Middle East, has been condemning the missile attacks, launched by Yemeni Houthis, time and again, inside Saudi Arabia, naming the Houthis. But the latest attack comes at a time when tension is escalating in the Middle East between the United States and Iran.
Earlier in January 2019, the Houthis carried out its first drone attack, targeting Yemeni government military high command, killing up to six people attending a military parade.
The Saudi Arabia-led coalition has been battling Yemeni rebels including the Houthi movement since 2015 in response to calls from the internationally recognised pro-Saudi president of Yemen Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi for military support after he was ousted by the Houthis due to economic and political grievances.
The war has caused a humanitarian crisis in poorest Middle Eastern country, besides killing of thousands of people and displacing thousands others. In November 2018, the UNICEF described Yemen as 'a living hell for children," saying that every 10 minutes a child is dying of preventable diseases as a result of the war.
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