Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned what Saudi Arabia described as an attempted drone attack near the holy city of Mecca, calling the attack “dastardly and heinous” and declaring solidarity with Riyadh. Sharif said Pakistan condemned the incident “in the strongest possible terms” and was proud of the Saudi security forces which intercepted the drone before it managed to penetrate the restricted airspace over the holy city.
The statement came as Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Mecca on Tuesday, September 15. According to the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, the drone was launched by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement and was destroyed before it penetrated the prohibited airspace over Mecca. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said the safety of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims was a “red line” and threats of further deterrent measures would be taken.
The Houthis responded to the Saudi accusation. A Houthi spokesperson denied that the group had targeted Mecca or any Islamic holy site. Reuters reported that the group described Saudi claims about targeting Mecca as unfounded, while Saudi authorities continued to attribute the drone to the Houthis.
Shehbaz Sharif Condemns Incident
Sharif expressed distress at the attempt and said in his statement to parliament that the people of Pakistan were “saddened and perturbed” by the incident. He also praised the Royal Saudi Armed Forces for their vigilance and quick response.
Sharif also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the security and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain (the two holy sites in Mecca and Medina).
The statement made Sharif singling out the attack but not naming the Houthis. That is even as Saudi authorities have publicly blamed the drone on the Yemen-based group. The Houthis have denied such an attack, and the Houthis dispute the attribution of the specific incident.
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Drone Near Mecca
The drone was intercepted south of Mecca before it could enter the restricted airspace around the holy city, Saudi authorities said. The Saudi air defense forces destroyed the drone at around 6:50 pm local time on September 15, the coalition spokesperson said.
The Saudi officials said the attack was the second Houthi attempt to hit Mecca. They cited a ballistic missile incident in July 2017 as the previous one. The coalition has emphasized that the safety of Mecca and Medina and pilgrims is an urgent security priority.
The incident came at a time of greater escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. Saudi Arabia has been under attack for several months and the Houthis have claimed responsibility for a number of strikes against Saudi targets. The wider war and power struggle in Yemen and wider regional friction between Iran-aligned groups is connected to the ongoing war and power struggle as well.
The Pakistan-Saudi-Turkiye Defence Pact Under Focus
The incident has also brought attention to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in August. An attack on any of the three countries would be considered an attack against all three and the defence cooperation among the three countries will be reinforced, according to the agreement.
Pakistan had already made it clear before the latest incident that no military response under the agreement was being discussed in relation to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Pakistan's foreign ministry said on September 10 that Pakistan was committed to the agreement but said it did not consider military options at this time.
So the latest incident comes as the newly established defence arrangement is being questioned if attacks on Saudi territory continue. The agreement's stated collective defence provision has received particular attention as regional hostilities have intensified.
Calls for Restraint and Diplomacy
In addition to his condemnation, Sharif also urged restraint and diplomacy. The region had already experienced a lot of conflict and dialogue was the only way to settle disputes, he said.
The incident did not lead to the drone entering Mecca’s prohibited airspace, Saudi officials said. However, the report has raised security concerns due to the city’s religious importance and the presence of pilgrims and residents of Mecca.
The competing accounts over the drone's origin are a big part of the story. Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners maintain that the aircraft was a Houthi drone, while the Houthis deny targeting Mecca. Pakistan’s response so far has been to condemn the reported attempt, support Saudi Arabia, and urge all parties to prevent further escalation.
As regional tensions continue, the incident is likely to be subject to close international scrutiny, especially with the involvement of Saudi Arabia, the Houthis and the newly established Pakistan-Saudi-Türkiye defence arrangement.
