Islamabad, September 16, 2026 – The Europe Today: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday strongly condemned an attempted drone attack targeting Makkah Al-Mukarramah and reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia in protecting its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain.
In a statement, the prime minister said Pakistan stood “shoulder to shoulder” with Saudi Arabia and condemned the attempted attack in the strongest terms. He said the people of Pakistan were deeply saddened and disturbed by the incident.
The statement followed the reported interception and destruction by Saudi air defences of a Houthi drone south of Makkah on Tuesday, before it entered the prohibited airspace over the holy city. The Saudi-led coalition said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims constituted a red line.
Prime Minister Shehbaz praised the Royal Saudi Armed Forces for what he described as their vigilance, courage and professionalism in responding to the incident.
He also called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation, stressing that the region had already suffered extensively because of conflict.
The prime minister said dialogue and diplomacy remained the sustainable means of achieving peace and urged all sides to step back from further escalation.
A Houthi military source, meanwhile, denied that the group posed a threat to Makkah or other holy sites, according to the Houthi-run SABA news agency cited in the report.
The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions and a series of attacks involving Iran-aligned fighters, which have increased security concerns across Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.
Pakistan’s reaffirmation of support comes amid its longstanding strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia, with Islamabad stressing the importance of protecting the Kingdom’s sovereignty and the sanctity of Islam’s holiest sites.
