Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the attempted drone attack reported near the holy city of Mecca, expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia and praising its air defence forces for intercepting the threat. Sharif described the incident as a “dastardly and heinous” act and said the people of Pakistan were deeply saddened by the development.
Saudi authorities said their air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Mecca on Tuesday evening before it could enter the restricted airspace over the holy city. Saudi-led coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Malki said the drone was brought down at around 6:50 pm local time on September 15. He described the security of Mecca, Medina and pilgrims as a “red line” and warned that further deterrent measures could be taken.
Saudi Arabia has attributed the attempted attack to Yemen’s Houthi movement. However, the Houthis have denied targeting Mecca or any Islamic holy site. The group has described the Saudi allegation as false, leaving the attribution disputed.
In his statement, Sharif did not directly name the Houthis. Instead, he condemned the reported attack and praised the Royal Saudi Armed Forces for what he called their swift and professional response. He also called on all sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid actions that could further escalate tensions in the region.
The Pakistani prime minister stressed that the region had already suffered heavily from prolonged conflict and said dialogue and diplomacy remained the sustainable route to resolving the crisis. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the security and sanctity of the Islamic holy sites.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, with the group claiming responsibility for several recent attacks on Saudi targets. Saudi authorities have also raised security alerts in parts of the western region following the escalation. The reported drone interception near Mecca has added another sensitive dimension to the conflict because of the city’s religious significance.
The development has also drawn attention to Pakistan’s defence relationship with Saudi Arabia. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have strengthened their security cooperation, while a trilateral defence arrangement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye has added to scrutiny over Islamabad’s position as tensions escalate. Pakistan has so far emphasised support for Saudi security while calling for restraint and diplomacy.
Saudi officials have described the latest incident as the second alleged Houthi attempt to target Mecca, following a 2017 ballistic missile incident that Saudi authorities also attributed to the group. The Houthis have denied targeting the holy city in the latest episode.
