As Saudi tensions with Iran-backed Houthis escalate, mediator Pakistan faces pressure to choose a side - Reuters

**Saudi‑Houthi Conflict Intensifies as Pipeline Shuts Down and Regional Mediation Falters**

Saudi Arabia’s war with Iran‑backed Houthi forces in Yemen entered a new phase this week when the kingdom announced the closure of its East‑West oil pipeline, a 1,200‑kilometre conduit that carries roughly 1.7 million barrels of crude daily from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea. Riyadh blamed “drone attacks” launched from Iraq for the disruption, a claim echoed by Al Jazeera, which reported that the drones struck the pipeline’s central section near the Saudi‑Iraqi border. Satellite imagery released by the Deccan Herald showed plumes of smoke and a brief flare‑up along the pipeline’s route, confirming a physical impact that forced Saudi operators to halt flow as a safety precaution.

The pipeline outage follows a string of Houthi gains along the Red Sea coastline. Earlier in the month, the rebels seized the strategic port of Al‑Mokha, edging within striking distance of the Bab el‑Mandeb strait, a chokepoint through which about one‑third of global oil shipments pass. ThePrint highlighted that the capture of Al‑Mokha not only threatens maritime traffic but also provides the Houthis with a forward base to launch further attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including the oil pipeline. While the Saudi government maintains that the drone strikes originated from Iraqi territory, the Houthis have denied involvement, insisting the pipeline was targeted as part of a broader campaign against what they deem “Saudi aggression” in Yemen.

Amid the escalating hostilities, Pakistan, long‑standing mediator between Riyadh and Tehran, finds its diplomatic tightrope increasingly precarious. Reuters noted that both Saudi officials and Iranian allies are intensifying pressure on Islamabad to abandon its neutral stance and openly side with one camp. Analysts warn that any perceived shift could destabilise the fragile cease‑fire framework that has held since 2022 and jeopardise Pakistan’s broader regional influence. As the conflict threatens global energy markets and shipping lanes, the world watches whether Pakistan will continue its role as a conciliator or be forced to choose a side.