RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has announced a sweeping $500 million development package for southern Yemen following a government offensive against allied separatists, while Pakistan has urged the UN Security Council to push for an inclusive political settlement to the protracted conflict. The development initiative, spanning 10 provinces, signals an increasingly assertive posture by the Kingdom after recent volatility in the region. Last year, the separatist South­ern Transitional Council swept through parts of the south, advancing near the Saudi border. Riyadh declared the manoeuvre a threat to its national security and backed a military offensive earlier this month that routed the STC from power. Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman met on Wednesday with the head of Yemen’s internationally recognised government and members of the Presidential Leadership Council to affirm the kingdom’s backing. Pakistan urges UN to push for inclusive political deal According to a statement on his account on the social platform X, the new projects include the construction of hospitals, schools and roads, as well as fuel donations to boost power production. The kingdom also announced the construction of a mosque on the island of Socotra named “The Cus­todian of the Two Holy Mosques,” a reference to the Saudi king. “This support embodies the kingdom’s keenness to enhance security and stability, and to contribute to building a better future for Yemen and its brotherly people,” the statement read. Separately, Pakistan called on international powers to address the deepening crisis. Speaking to the UN Security Council, Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Ahmad warned that millions are suffering due to the collapse of basic services. “We encourage all Yemeni stakeholders and regional partners to engage constructively towards an inclusive and durable political settlement that reflects the aspiration of all the Yemeni people and safeguards regional peace and stability,” Mr Ahmad said. The Pakistani envoy welcomed a call by the Aden-based Presidential Leadership Council to convene comprehensive talks in Riyadh. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to Yemen’s territorial integrity and opposed unilateral actions that risk deepening divisions. Furthermore, Ahmad condemned the detention of UN and relief personnel and the seizure of UN premises in areas controlled by the Houthis, terming it a “blatant disregard for international law”. Only two-thirds of Yemen’s children are fully immunised, leaving millions vulnerable to deadly diseases such as measles, diphtheria, cholera and polio. Ahmad urged the Security Council to act with unity to support a credible pathway toward peace. “We hope that these efforts will result in concrete steps towards achieving lasting peace and an end to the suffering of the Yemeni people,” Ahmad said. Meanwhile, UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg noted that in response to STC’s expansion in Hadramout and Al Mahra, Saudi-backed government for­ces moved in early January to reassert contr­­ol, emphasising that Ye­­men’s future cannot be determined by force. Political uncertainty has devastated Yemen’s economy, eroding household resilience through rising prices and unpaid salaries. Ramesh Rajasingham, director of the humanitarian sector for the UN aid coordination office, told the Council that needs are rising while access becomes restricted. Rajasingham warned that over 18 million people will face acute food insecurity next month. Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2026