Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned the drone attack on the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the United Arab Emirates carried out on May 17, 2026, and expressed full solidarity with the UAE government and people.
Image: Dawn
In a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Pakistan said any deliberate targeting of nuclear facilities constituted a grave violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, the United Nations Charter, and internationally recognised nuclear safety and security principles under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) framework.
The Foreign Office stressed that civilian nuclear installations must never be targeted under any circumstances, warning that such actions could have catastrophic and irreversible consequences for human life, the environment, and regional as well as global peace and security.
“The inviolability of civilian nuclear infrastructure is a well-established international norm and must be upheld without exception,” the statement said.
Pakistan urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, fulfil their obligations under international law and international humanitarian law, and avoid steps that could further escalate tensions in the region.
The Foreign Office reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy, in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter, remain the only viable path toward peace, stability, and de-escalation.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia also condemned the drone strike, describing it as a threat to regional security and stability.
In a statement, the Saudi foreign ministry expressed solidarity with the UAE and pledged support for all measures aimed at safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.
