Interview : Tazeen Akhtar | Mustafa Khan | Pics Raja Ghulam Farid
Ambassador of Yemen H.E Mohammed Motahar Alashabi has said that continued support to Houthis by some regional powers is undermining the chances for peace in the region. Pakistan has influence on these powers and may use it to convince them to lessen their support. The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (under command of General Raheel Sharif) can not act against the Houthis because they have not been declared ” Terrorists” so far.
The Yemeni issue is not longer merely an internal matter.It has become a matter of protecting the international order based on respect for state sovereignty, the enforcement of Security Council Resolutions, and the preservation of international maritime security.
He said that Pakistan can use her influence to convince the regional powers to stop support for the Houthi Militia.
H.E expressed these views in an interview to Pakistan in the World at the embassy on 29th Aug 2026.
Ambassador said The continued Houthi militia coup, the external support it receives , and the repeated violations of Security Council resolutions constitute a direct challenge to international law , the principles of state sovereignty and the internal order based on the implementation of binding resolutions.
He said , defending the Yemeni state is defending the principles upon which the UN Charter is founded, not defending a particular government.
“Any political, financial , military or logistical support for the Houthi militias prolongs the war, encourages them to reject political solutions, and exacerbates the humanitarian crisis” , the Ambassador noted.
He added, Sustainable peace in Yemen cannot be achieved while the flow of resources supporting the war economy continues, or while external interventions persist, encouraging the militians to pursue their military options.
About the position of the government of Yemen, Ambassador stated, the government has adhered to all agreed upon frameworks and participated in various political initiatives. It has also engaged positively with the efforts of the United Nations, its brothers, and international partners.
Pakistan expresses support for efforts for peace and stability in Yemen
H.E said, They state of Yemen continues to believe that a political solution is the best option for ending the war, provided it is based on dismantling the Houthi militias, restrong state institutions, and respecting Yemeni national, regional and international frameworks.
Ambassador emphasized that protection of the Yemeni state is a shared regional and international responsibility because it is in their interest.
He said, The stability of Yemen is not only a Yemeni interest but also a cornerstone of regional security, the safety of international trade , energy security and the stability of the Red Sea., the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al Mandab strait.
H.E Mohammed Motahar Alashabi said in the context of the US Israel Iran war , recent developments have demonstrated that any leniency towards the Houthi militias will not only affect Yemen internally but will also impact regional and international security.
He stressed implementing international resolutions , not just issuing them. He said, the fundamental problem is no longer the absence of legal frameworks but rather the weakness in their implementation.
“The Security Council resolutions on Yemen provided a clear legal framework, but their continued violation without deterrent measures has emboldened the militias to pursue their escalatory policies” , the Ambassador shared.
H.E said, the priority must be the strict implementation of the Security Council resolutions and the sanctions on the regime, and preventing any military, financial or logistical support from reaching these militias.
Ambassador said any international response that is not commensurate with the scale of the violations committed by the Houthi militias will be interpreted as a lack of international will, which encourages further military escalation, prolongs the war, and increases the suffering of civilians.
Pakistan urges UN Security Council to act unitedly to end prolonged conflict in Yemen
Role of Regional Orgs
On questions regarding Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, Arab League , Ambassador said they are doing their job and they support the restoration of peace and stability in Yemen.
Regarding Arab League, Ambassador said, the organization supports and stands with us but we know that many countries are suffering due to militias in the region, therefore it is more an international issue than regional or Arab level. He stressed on international community to play the role for peace in the region.
About the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, Ambassador said, it was established against terrorism and the force is doing that job. He said, Houthis have not been declared Terrorist Org at international level. That is the reason the force can not take action against them.
The Plight of the People
Regarding the plight of the people of Yemen due to Houthi issue, Ambassador shared that the situation is very bad for the people. They do not have proper access to food, water, medicine and other basic necessities for life.
Ambassador shared that the Houthis are recieving taxes from the public forcibly but provide no relief to the citizens captured under their illegal control. Many women have been detained by the Houthis. They are violating human rights continuously with no intervention from the concerned international organizations. UN relief agencies however have sent the staff for human assistance to the oppressed people.
Smuggling of Weapons
To a question about how the Houthis get weapons, funds and other support while on one side is Saudi Arabia , on other side is Oman. Ambassador replied that the sea route is open to Hudaida port. There is no blockade.
” We have not blocked it. Yemen does not have missiles and drones to stop smugling of weapons. He shared that from Jan to Jun this year, 300 ships arrived with support for the Houthis at Hudaida port, H.E Motahar Alashabi explained.
Pakistan, Mediation, Yemen
H.E Alshabi spoke highly about Pakistan’s role in restoring peace in Middle East. He said , Pakistan did a great job and we value Pakistan’s contributions in maintaining stability in the region.
To a question that what role Pakistan can play for Yemen, Ambassador said, Pakistan has good relations with the regional powers. Pakistan can use her influence to convince the powers not to or at least reduce the support of the Houthis.
Pakistan Yemen Geography
Taking the geography of Yemen into account, Ambassador agreed that both countries can benefit from their locations connecting the regions and continents. He consented to the opinion that Yemen is next neighbor of Pakistan and provides a route to Africa that is continent of today.
H.E Alashabi termed the CPEC as important corridor in the region and said that Yemen is ready to facilitate any project in the future.
Finally, Ambassador said, Pakistanis are very hospitable, generous and kind people. He said I feel at home in Pakistan.
He admired the education system in Pakistan and said, the quality of education here is high while the fee structures are reasonable. More than 300 Yemeni students are studying in Pakistan. They will be ambassadors of Pakistan in Yemen when they complete their studies and return home.
