Pakistani cleric labels Houthis as terrorists in Saudi Arabia

Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Ashrafi, head of the Pakistan Ulema Council, has labeled the Houthi rebels as terrorists, stating they have ‘no connection to Islam’. Speaking at an international conference in Saudi Arabia, Ashrafi addressed the escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.

Ashrafi emphasized that the conflict is not a war between Sunnis and Shiites, nor a war between two nations, but rather a fight against a terrorist organization. He declared the security of Saudi Arabia, the land of the two holy mosques, to be a ‘red line’ for Pakistan, asserting that the Pakistani government, military, and public stand in solidarity with the Kingdom.

His remarks come amid reports of increasing defense cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Ashrafi’s recent stance has drawn attention due to his past controversial comments in 2007, when he referred to Osama bin Laden as a ‘Muslim warrior’.