Islamabad (TDI): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned an attempted Houthi drone attack near Makkah Al-Mukarramah, reaffirming Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and the security and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain.
In a statement on X on Wednesday, the prime minister described the attack as “dastardly and heinous” and said Pakistan stood “unwaveringly, shoulder to shoulder” with the Kingdom in defending its sovereignty and the sanctity of the Two Holy Mosques.
“The people of Pakistan are saddened and perturbed by this outrageous act,” Shehbaz Sharif said, adding that there were no words strong enough to express the anguish and sorrow caused by what he described as a “reprehensible and unforgivable act.”
The statement followed Saudi Arabia’s announcement that its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah on Tuesday before it entered prohibited airspace over the holy city. The Saudi-led coalition said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims was a “red line” and vowed to take measures to deter further attacks.
The prime minister also praised Saudi forces for their response, saying Pakistan saluted the “extraordinary vigilance, courage, and professionalism” of the Royal Saudi Armed Forces for their swift action.
Read More: Saudi-led Coalition Says Houthis Targeted Makkah With Drone
At the same time, PM Shehbaz urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation, saying the region had already suffered heavily from conflict. “Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only sustainable path towards peace,” he said.
Saudi Arabia had issued security alerts across several parts of the country on Tuesday, including Makkah and other cities, following a series of attacks by Iran-aligned fighters that have drawn the kingdom further into the widening US-Iran conflict.
A Houthi military source, however, denied that the group posed any threat to Makkah or other holy sites, according to comments carried by the Houthi-run SABA news agency.
The latest confrontation comes as the Houthis strengthen their position along parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb, one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.
The group’s position along the Red Sea has raised concerns for Saudi oil shipments that have been rerouted away from the Strait of Hormuz amid the wider regional conflict.
The Houthis have carried out several attacks against Saudi Arabia over the past week, including a strike on an air base on Monday that the group described as retaliation for Saudi airstrikes on Yemen.
The latest attacks follow an earlier Houthi claim on July 23 that two Saudi oil tankers had been targeted as part of what the group described as a naval blockade against the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has also shut down its East-West oil pipeline after the strategic energy route came under aerial attack during the widening Middle East conflict.
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The developments also come shortly after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye formalized their longstanding strategic cooperation through the signing of the “Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.”
The trilateral security framework was concluded during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defense and is aimed at strengthening collective deterrence, expanding military cooperation and promoting regional stability.
The agreement has drawn comparisons with military alliances such as NATO. Security analysts, however, have described it as an effort to formalize decades of existing strategic cooperation rather than establish a new military bloc or offensive alliance.
Against the backdrop of the widening regional conflict, the attempted drone attack near Makkah has added another dimension to security concerns surrounding Saudi Arabia and the protection of the Islamic holy sites.
