By Sumayya
Pakistan has issued a stark warning that any attack on an empty oil tanker stranded in the Red Sea near Saudi Arabia’s east-west pipeline would be treated as an “act of war”, as the government in Islamabad weighs its options for the vessel amid rapidly dwindling diesel reserves, a global business news network reported.
Speaking to a private news channel, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said that the tanker would have to be moved regardless of circumstances. “We will have to move it one way or another,” he said, adding that Saudi authorities had requested the vessel remain on standby for the time being.
The Saudi east-west pipeline — which had served as a critical bypass route for the kingdom’s oil exports to circumvent the turmoil in the Strait of Hormuz — was shut down last week following the Houthis attacks and may remain closed for up to six weeks.
Pakistan’s options for the stranded vessel include keeping it at the pipeline until operations resume, sailing it home via Oman or the United Arab Emirates, or alternatively securing crude supplies from Libya, Malik said.
He warned that if crude supplies were curtailed, Pakistan faced an imminent diesel shortage, as the country held stocks only for the current and coming month.
Houthis have been launching near-daily attacks on Saudi Arabia for two weeks, capturing additional territory in Yemen and tightening their grip on the Bab al-Mandab strait at the southern entrance to the Red Sea — another critical chokepoint for global shipping and energy markets.
Despite the ongoing conflict, ships sailing under Pakistan’s flag have managed to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Iran war began in late February, with Islamabad having played a pivotal mediating role throughout the conflict.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for Saudi Arabia and condemned a drone attack targeting the holy city of Makkah, according to a statement from his office.
Pakistan has previously said any attack on the kingdom could activate the trilateral Makkah Defence Alliance signed last month between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan.
Pakistan has issued a severe warning that any assault on a vacant fuel vessel trapped in the Red Sea near Saudi Arabia’s east-west conduit would be regarded as an “action of war”, as the administration in Islamabad evaluates its routes for the boat amidst rapidly shrinking diesel stores, a global business news network reported.
Talking to a private news outlet, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik expressed that the vessel would possess to be shifted independent of situations. “We will possess to shift it one path or alternate,” he expressed, supplementing that Saudi authorities had petitioned the boat stay on alert for the time being.
The Saudi east-west conduit — which had functioned as a vital detour path for the realm’s fuel exports to bypass the chaos in the Strait of Hormuz — stood locked last week succeeding the Houthis assaults and might stay locked for up to six weeks.
Pakistan’s routes for the trapped boat encompass keeping it at the conduit until operations restart, sailing it home through Oman or the United Arab Emirates, or alternatively obtaining raw fuel assets from Libya, Malik expressed.
He cautioned that if raw fuel assets were shortened, Pakistan encountered an incoming diesel deficit, as the nation managed stores merely for the current and upcoming month.
Houthis have been launching near-daily assaults on Saudi Arabia for two weeks, seizing extra territory in Yemen and tightening their hold on the Bab al-Mandab strait at the southern gateway to the Red Sea — alternate vital bottleneck for global transport and power markets.
Notwithstanding the ongoing dispute, boats sailing under Pakistan’s flag have managed to cross the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Iran war commenced in late February, with Islamabad having performed a central balancing role throughout the dispute.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif repeated Pakistan’s steady backing for Saudi Arabia and denounced a flyer assault focusing the sacred city of Makkah, according to a report from his room.
Pakistan has previously expressed any assault on the realm could trigger the three-sided Makkah Defence Alliance signed last month between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan.
