ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday condemned an attempted Houthi attack on Saudi Aramco’s administrative building in Riyadh. It demanded that the Yemeni group immediately and unconditionally halt attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry reported that falling shrapnel caused minor damage to the building on November 8. It reported no injuries or fatalities.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack. Saudi authorities did not identify the perpetrators in their initial announcement.
In its response, Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemned the targeting of civilian infrastructure. It described this as a disregard for human life and regional security. Furthermore, it also praised Saudi authorities’ vigilance and response.
“The security of Saudi Arabia is of paramount importance to Pakistan,” the statement said.
Islamabad reaffirmed its solidarity with the Saudi leadership and people. It also backed measures necessary to safeguard the kingdom’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The damaged building stands in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District, which houses major financial institutions and international businesses.
Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed two Houthi ballistic missiles heading towards Riyadh on November 8. Additionally, residents heard loud explosions in the capital.
The incident followed weeks of disruption from earlier attacks. Saudi education authorities had announced the resumption of in-person classes in Riyadh after a period of remote learning.
Andreas Krieg, of London-based consultancy MENA Analytica, told AFP that targeting the financial district threatened the credibility of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification programme, Vision 2030.
He argued that such attacks increased the political cost of Riyadh’s Yemen campaign. These attacks also placed further pressure on Saudi leaders to respond militarily.
Read More: Riyadh Airport Cancellations Hit 94% After Houthi Strikes
Pakistan’s statement follows the expansion of its defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
Islamabad and Riyadh signed a bilateral defence agreement in September 2025. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye subsequently signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7.
That agreement establishes a framework for collective deterrence and expanded defence cooperation. It stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three countries would count as an attack against all three.
(With input from Radio Pakistan, Reuters and AFP.)
