- WEB DESK
- September 16, 2026
PM Shehbaz condemns ‘dastardly’ drone attack attempt near Makkah, urges restraint
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- WEB DESK
- September 16, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday condemned what he described as a “dastardly and heinous” attempted drone attack targeting the Holy Site of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia and praising its armed forces for intercepting the threat.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the dastardly and heinous attempted drone attack against the Holy Site of Makkah Al-Mukarramah,” PM Shehbaz said in a post on X.
He said the incident had deeply saddened people in Pakistan.
“The people of Pakistan are saddened and perturbed by this outrageous act,” the prime minister said, adding that “there can be no words strong enough to capture the depth of anguish and sorrow felt by us at this reprehensible and unforgivable act.”
PM Shehbaz praised the Saudi forces for their response, saying: “We salute the extraordinary vigilance, courage, and professionalism of the Royal Saudi Armed Forces, for their swift and heroic action.”
The prime minister also renewed his call for restraint amid escalating regional tensions.
“I once again call upon all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to step back from the brink of further escalation,” he said.
“Our region has already suffered far too much from conflict. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only sustainable path towards peace,” PM Shehbaz added.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia, saying Islamabad stood “unwaveringly, shoulder to shoulder with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
PM Shehbaz also pledged Pakistan’s support for the security and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain, saying it was “a duty that every Pakistani carries close to their heart.”
Pakistan condemns Houthi aggression at UNSC
Earlier today condemned Houthi attacks and warned that the escalation in Yemen and around the Bab al-Mandab maritime corridor had brought the conflict to an “extremely dangerous juncture.”
Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Yemen, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said the Council’s decision to meet again in less than a week reflected the “urgency and gravity” of the rapidly deteriorating situation.
“The Houthi military escalation inside Yemen, the continued Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the latest military developments along Yemen’s Red Sea coast have brought the conflict to an extremely dangerous juncture,” he said.
Pakistan condemns attacks on Saudi Arabia
Ahmad said Pakistan “condemns, in the strongest terms, all Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
He said Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, during a conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, had reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the attacks and underscored that they threatened regional peace and stability.
“These attacks threaten regional peace and stability with serious consequences for the global economy and energy security,” Ahmad said.
“Pakistan will continue its earnest efforts at the highest levels to help diffuse tensions and advance peace and stability in the region,” he added.
Pakistan also reaffirmed its support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and prosperity.
“Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and prosperity of Saudi Arabia and stands in complete solidarity with its leadership, government, and brotherly people of the kingdom,” Ahmad said.
He added that, consistent with the UN Charter and international law, Pakistan “fully supports the kingdom’s legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend its territory, protect its citizens, and safeguard its national assets against any threat.”
Warning over Bab al-Mandab
Ahmad also voiced concern over the expansion of Houthi attacks around Bab al-Mandab, describing the waterway as a “vital maritime corridor.”
“The expansion of Houthi attacks in and around Bab al-Mandab, this vital maritime corridor, represents a serious escalation,” he said.
He said continued violations of international law involving commercial shipping posed a growing threat to freedom of navigation and the uninterrupted movement of international maritime commerce.
“Any attempt to threaten, obstruct, or weaponize the vital waterways will have consequences for international trade and commercial shipping, global supply chains, and energy security,” he warned.
Call for diplomacy and political process
The Pakistani envoy said the relative calm maintained in Yemen since 2022 had “unfortunately collapsed”, warning that further escalation could reignite a full-scale conflict and draw Yemen deeper into the wider regional confrontation.
“This must be prevented,” he said.
Ahmad also highlighted the worsening humanitarian situation in Yemen.
“The current developments further exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen, compounding the suffering of the Yemeni people,” he said.
“Diplomacy must assume urgency in proportion to the gravity of this situation,” he added.
Pakistan, he said, strongly supported the resumption of “an inclusive, Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process under United Nations auspices” and appreciated the continued engagement of the UN Special Envoy.
Support for de-escalation
Ahmad said Pakistan would continue backing diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the escalation and finding a political solution.
“Pakistan will continue to support all sincere efforts towards de-escalation, dialogue, and a comprehensive political settlement that can bring lasting peace and stability to Yemen and the wider region,” he said.
