Pakistan has strongly condemned the hijacking of the UAE-flagged Cargo Vessel "Rawabi" by the Houthis near the port city of Hodeidah in Yemen.

In a statement today [Wednesday], Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said such blatant acts not only threaten the freedom of maritime navigation but also endanger international trade and security of the region.

He said Pakistan expresses its solidarity with the UAE and calls for immediate release of the vessel and its crew.