Islamabad/New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday again "condemned" what Saudi Arabia described as an attempted Houthi drone attack targeting the holy city of Mecca, an allegation the Iran-backed group has rejected. Ironically, the attack took place in the same city where the Mecca Defence Pact was signed a month ago, with Pakistan seen as a key player due to its status as a nuclear state.
No protection, only condemnation
It was widely believed that the pact would be activated automatically if any of its members faced aggression. However, despite a series of attacks, first on Saudi Arabia’s and the world’s largest oil facility, Aramco, and now on the holiest city of Islam, Prime Minister Sharif has limited his response to mere condemnation. It was expected that Islamabad would come to the kingdom’s rescue after Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared on live television that the pact would become operational. Instead, Islamabad took a sharp U-turn, stating that the Houthi attacks were not covered under the Mecca Pact.
Since then, Pakistan’s leadership has confined itself to posting messages of condemnation on social media platforms, rather than fulfilling its commitments to the kingdom.
Several areas along Saudi Arabia's western coast, including the holy city of Mecca, were placed on security alert on Tuesday after Saudi authorities said their air defences had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of the city. The drone was destroyed before it entered Mecca's prohibited airspace, according to Saudi authorities.
The Houthis, however, denied targeting Mecca or any Islamic holy site.
"I condemn in the strongest possible terms": Sharif
The incident comes amid a broader escalation involving Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed group, which has carried out attacks on Saudi territory in recent days and threatened maritime traffic in and around the Red Sea. "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the dastardly and heinous attempted drone attack against the Holy Site of Makkah Al-Mukarramah," Sharif said in a statement.
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He said the people of Pakistan were "saddened and perturbed" by the "outrageous act", adding that there could be no words strong enough "to capture the depth of anguish and sorrow" felt by them at the "reprehensible and unforgivable act".
Sharif praised the "extraordinary vigilance, courage and professionalism" of the Royal Saudi Armed Forces for their swift and heroic action, and called upon all parties to exercise "maximum restraint" and 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," the prime minister said.
Pakistan stood "unwaveringly shoulder to shoulder": Sharif
Sharif also said Pakistan stood "unwaveringly shoulder to shoulder" with Saudi Arabia in the defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The latest development follows a series of attacks on Saudi territory and critical infrastructure in recent days.
On September 12, Saudi Arabia temporarily shut its 1,200-km East-West oil pipeline after a drone attack that Saudi Arabia and Iraq said originated from Iraqi territory. The pipeline provides an alternative route for Saudi crude exports to the Red Sea, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been severely disrupted by the wider regional conflict that has been going on since February 28. Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia on September 9 also injured at least 73 civilians, according to Saudi authorities.
(With inputs from agency)
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