What happened
Pakistan on Tuesday condemned Iranian missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia’s energy facilities, calling them “a dangerous escalation” that undermined regional peace and stability.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said the government expressed “deep concern and unequivocal condemnation of the missile and drone attacks carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran last night against energy facilities in the Eastern Region of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” It said Pakistan mourned the loss of life, deplored the damage to vital infrastructure and conveyed condolences to the victims’ families.
“The government of Pakistan considers these attacks a serious violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and a dangerous escalation that undermines regional peace and stability,” the FO said, reaffirming “unwavering support for the Kingdom’s security.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on X that he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and conveyed Pakistan’s “unwavering solidarity.” He wrote: “Condemned today’s attack on the Al Jubeil oil facility. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Saudi brothers and sisters.” A Prime Minister’s Office statement said he lauded the Saudi leadership’s restraint and briefed the crown prince on “latest developments in Pakistan’s mediation efforts to de-escalate the Middle East crisis.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also discussed the regional situation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud.
Why it matters
The strikes hit at the heart of a dilemma Pakistan has been navigating since the war began: it is simultaneously the mediator between Washington and Tehran and a treaty-bound ally of Riyadh. The condemnation came as Islamabad pressed its US-Iran ceasefire framework. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement last year that pledges to treat an attack on either as aggression against both.
The military’s response was unusually direct. A commanders’ forum chaired by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir described the attacks as “unnecessary provocations that undermine efforts for a peaceful solution,” according to the state news agency, while noting Saudi restraint had “paved the way for a diplomatic solution.” Iran’s ambassador in Islamabad, Reza Amiri Moghadam, was quoted as saying Pakistan’s “positive and productive endeavours” were “approaching a critical, sensitive stage.”
Pakistan’s public condemnation gives its mediation a harder edge, but it also narrows its room to manoeuvre. An attack that strikes Saudi infrastructure raises the prospect of obligations under the defence pact even as Islamabad tries to keep both Washington and Tehran engaged.
What is still uncertain
Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said it had intercepted ballistic missiles towards its eastern region and that debris fell near energy facilities, but it did not specify who launched the projectiles. A witness told AFP that overnight attacks hit a petrochemical complex in Jubail and that a fire broke out at plants belonging to the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC).
The kingdom has come under attack from hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones since the US and Israel launched the war on Iran on 28 February, most of which were intercepted, authorities have said. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates issued simultaneous public safety alerts on Tuesday, and the bridge connecting Saudi Arabia to Bahrain was briefly closed as a precaution.
It remains unclear whether the strikes will harden or soften Iran’s position in the Pakistan-mediated talks, and whether Islamabad would be drawn into any joint response under the defence pact.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a synthesis of published material, not eyewitness reporting. Sources were reviewed on 2026-04-08.
- Dawn — "'Dangerous escalation': Pakistan condemns Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia's energy facilities"7 April 2026 · The Foreign Office statement, PM Shehbaz's call with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Al Jubeil reference, the SABIC fire account and the defence pact.
- The National — "Pakistan peace push in doubt after attacks on Saudi oil"7 April 2026 · The commanders' forum statement under Field Marshal Asim Munir, the defence pact's scope and the Iranian ambassador's remarks.
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