Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday strongly condemned an attempted drone attack near Makkah Al-Mukarramah, expressing Pakistan’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and calling on all parties to exercise maximum restraint to prevent further escalation in the region.
In a statement posted on X, the prime minister described the attempted attack against the holy site as “dastardly and heinous” and said the people of Pakistan were deeply saddened and perturbed by the incident.
The statement followed reports from Saudi authorities that the kingdom’s air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone launched near Makkah before it entered the restricted airspace over the holy city. The Saudi-led coalition said the drone was intercepted on Tuesday evening.
According to Anadolu Agency, Saudi authorities attributed the launch to Yemen’s Houthi group, while the Houthis denied responsibility. The conflicting claims have not been independently resolved. Prime Minister Shehbaz praised the Royal Saudi Armed Forces for what he described as their “extraordinary vigilance, courage, and professionalism” and commended their swift response in dealing with the threat.
He also reiterated Pakistan’s call for restraint at a time of heightened tensions across the region. The prime minister urged all parties to “step back from the brink of further escalation”, warning that the region had already suffered extensively because of conflict. “Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only sustainable path towards peace,” he said.
Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and stressed Islamabad’s commitment to the security and sanctity of the two holy mosques. “Pakistan stands unwaveringly, shoulder to shoulder with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for the security and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain,” he said.
The remarks come amid a broader escalation involving Saudi Arabia and Houthi forces in Yemen. Pakistan has repeatedly condemned attacks on Saudi territory and called for a peaceful resolution to regional conflicts. The development also comes weeks after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August. Pakistan’s Foreign Office has described the accord as defensive in nature, saying it is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against external aggression while reaffirming the three countries’ commitment to sovereignty, territorial integrity and peaceful resolution of disputes. Pakistan has maintained that dialogue and diplomatic engagement remain essential to achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.