Sharif warns threats to Mecca cross a red line

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, warning that any threat to the safety and sanctity of Mecca would cross a red line. Whether the Houthis targeted the city remains disputed: Saudi Arabia accused them of sending a drone toward Mecca, while the Houthis denied the allegation. The reports do not independently establish the target or operator. Sharif described the attacks on Saudi Arabia as deplorable and said the attempted drone attack on Mecca had outraged Muslims. He said any threat to the holy city’s safety and sanctity must not be crossed. His remarks were made during the gathering of world leaders in New York on September 25. The accusation has become a sensitive issue as Pakistan deepens its defence relationship with Saudi Arabia while maintaining ties with Iran, which supports the Houthis. Sharif said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye last month, was intended to support peace, security and stability rather than target another country. The agreement provides for collective defence commitments among the three signatories.