Pakistan strongly condemns the recent drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline, an important energy artery that runs through the Riyadh and Madinah regions. The Foreign Office in Islamabad called the strikes a violation of international law and a direct threat to the sovereignty of a country that millions of Pakistanis regard as a second home. For ordinary Pakistanis, this is not some distant headline. The remittances, the jobs, the fuel prices and the safety of the Pakistani community living and working in the Kingdom are touched.
What’s Happened to the East-West Pipeline?
On 10 and 11 September 2026 sections of the East-West Pipeline, a 1,200-kilometre route that has carried crude oil from the Gulf coast to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, were hit by drones launched from Iraqi territory. The pipeline has become Saudi Arabia’s main alternative export route since the wider regional conflict involving Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi officials confirmed injuries and damage and closed the pipeline as a precaution while emergency teams evaluated the site.
Pakistan’s Official Response
Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said that strikes on civilian infrastructure were a flagrant violation of international law and a serious threat to regional stability. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s unequivocal support to the territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia and reiterated Islamabad’s solidarity with the leadership and people of the Kingdom. It is not a new position.
Pakistan has always supported Saudi Arabia’s in times of crisis owing to the strong religious, economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries. Whenever security of the Gulf is threatened, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan issues such statements routinely so much so that Islamabad keeps a close watch on developments in the region.
Why it matters to Pakistan Remittances: Saudi
•Arabia: is one of the largest sources of foreign remittances for Pakistan. Any instability there can affect jobs and money sent home to family.
•Fuel prices: Shutdowns of major oil routes tend to push up global crude prices, which can in turn push petrol prices at the pump back home.
•Overseas Pakistanis: Families with relatives working near Riyadh or Madinah are naturally worried about their safety during incidents like these.
•Regional stability: Pakistan has a real interest in peace in the Gulf, because instability there can affect trade, Hajj and Umrah travel, and diplomatic relations across the wider Muslim world.
How Pakistanis can keep themselves informed
•Official Updates from Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan & Pakistani Embassy in Riyadh.
•Overseas workers should note down embassy contact numbers and register with the community welfare section of the embassy if they have not already done so.
•OGRA is also sending notices on fuel prices. It is to be kept in mind that any change in the global oil prices can impact our local prices within weeks.
•Don’t trust unsubstantiated clips on social media. Check with established news outlets before you forward anything else.
Conclusion
The attacks on Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline are a reminder of how closely Pakistan’s economy and its people are linked to the stability of the Gulf. Islamabad’s condemnation is not just a diplomatic obligation but a genuine concern based on decades of fraternal relations. For Pakistani families and workers with a stake in the Kingdom’s safety, the best they can do is stay as informed as they can through credible sources, as events take place.
