Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned an attempted drone attack near the holy city of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, reaffirming Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and the security of the Haramain Sharifain.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the dastardly and heinous attempted drone attack against the Holy Site of Makkah Al-Mukarramah,” the prime minister said in a statement posted on X.
He said Pakistan stood “shoulder to shoulder” with Saudi Arabia in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as protecting the security and sanctity of the Two Holy Mosques.
The statement came after Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah on Tuesday before it could enter the 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 warned that measures would be taken to deter further attacks.
Expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the incident had deeply saddened and disturbed the people of Pakistan.
“There can be no words strong enough to capture the depth of anguish and sorrow felt by us at this reprehensible and unforgivable act,” he said.
The prime minister also praised the Saudi armed forces for their response, commending their vigilance, courage and professionalism in intercepting the drone.
He called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation in the region.
“Our region has already suffered far too much from conflict. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only sustainable path towards peace,” Shehbaz said.
Saudi Arabia 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 further drawn the kingdom into the wider US-Iran conflict.
A Houthi military source denied that the group had posed any threat to Makkah or other holy sites, according to the Houthi-run Saba news agency.
The Houthis control parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major global shipping route. Their presence in the area has raised concerns over the security of Saudi oil exports amid disruptions affecting regional energy routes.
The group has claimed responsibility for several attacks targeting Saudi Arabia over the past week, including an attack on a Saudi air base on Monday, which it described as retaliation for strikes on Yemen.
The Houthis have previously targeted Saudi interests. On July 23, the group claimed to have attacked two Saudi oil tankers, describing the action as part of a naval blockade against the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has also suspended operations on its East-West oil pipeline after the strategic route came under aerial attack amid the wider regional conflict.
The latest Houthi attacks come shortly after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye formalised their longstanding strategic ties through the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
The trilateral security framework is aimed at strengthening collective deterrence, expanding military cooperation and promoting regional stability.
The agreement was signed during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence and has drawn comparisons with military alliances such as NATO.
Security analysts, however, have described the pact as a formalisation of decades of strategic cooperation rather than the creation of a new military bloc or offensive alliance.
