Pakistan PM Shehbaz condemns ‘dastardly and heinous’ drone attack on Mecca

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned the 'dastardly and heinous' drone attack on Saudi Arabia's Mecca. While he expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, he did not mention the Houthis, whom the kingdom blamed for the attack, in his post.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday condemned the "dastardly and heinous" drone attack on Saudi Arabia's Mecca.

"I condemn in the strongest possible terms the dastardly and heinous attempted drone attack against the Holy Site of Makkah Al-Mukarramah. The people of Pakistan are saddened and perturbed by this outrageous act. There can be no words strong enough to capture the depth of anguish and sorrow felt by us at this reprehensible and unforgivable act," said Shehbaz in a post on X.

But Shehbaz did not name the Houthis, whom the Saudis blamed for the attack, or its patron Iran.

The condemnation comes hours after Saudis accused the Yemen-based, Iran-backed Houthis of targeting Mecca after intercepting a drone headed in its direction. They said that they intercepted a drone launched by the Houthis towards Mecca at 6:50 pm on Tuesday before it entered the city's prohibited airspace.

Even as Saudis declared the attack on Mecca as a "red line" and vowed a response, Shehbaz urged all sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid an escalation.

"I once again call upon all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to step back from the brink of further escalation. Our region has already suffered far too much from conflict. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only sustainable path towards peace," said Shehbaz.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year signed a mutual defence agreement, but it is not clear whether Pakistan would join any Saudi retaliation.

Shehbaz simply said, "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 — a duty that every Pakistani carries close to their heart."

The 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also condemned the attack as "heinous" and supported any action that Saudi Arabia might undertake against the Houthis.

"The General Secretariat expresses its full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures taken by the Kingdom to deter the aggressors, preserve the sanctity of holy sites and the lives of Muslims, and protect its security and sovereignty," the OIC said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia said an attack on Mecca remains a "red line" and the kingdom "will not hesitate to take the necessary and deterrent measures" against the Houthis.

Saudi Arabia further described the attack as a "deliberate act intended to provoke the feelings of millions of Muslims".

"This can only be described as a disgraceful act, an attempt to target the birthplace of revelation, the land of the message, and the destination that draws the hearts of millions of Muslims from around the world. It was also an attempt to terrorise the Umrah performers visiting the Grand Mosque in peace and to harm citizens and residents," the Saudis further said.