ISLAMABAD, SEP 23: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed that Pakistan stood “unwaveringly” and “shoulder to shoulder” with Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its sovereignty and security amid recent attacks on the kingdom by Yemen’s Houthis.
In his message on Saudi National Day, the prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s strongest condemnation of the Houthi attacks, particularly the attempted drone attack on Makkah.
“Any threat to the sanctity and security of the Haramain Sharifain deeply wounds the sentiments of Muslims across the world,” the prime minister wrote in his message posted on his official X account.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia said its air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah before it entered prohibited airspace over the holy city.
The drone was the second Houthi attempt to target Makkah, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen said.
The group has also declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, targeting Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea as well as sites within the kingdom.
Following the attacks on Saudi Arabia, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that Pakistan’s armed forces will go “to any extent” to defend the kingdom.
“Pakistan fully stands with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, both diplomatically and physically,” he said in an interview with Arab News.
Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz extended felicitations to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the people of Saudi Arabia on the country’s National Day.
The prime minister said that the kingdom’s journey of progress and transformation was a source of pride and admiration not only for the Saudi nation, but also for Pakistan.
Pakistan took immense pride in its historic and time-tested brotherhood with Saudi Arabia, rooted in faith, mutual trust and an abiding bond between our peoples, he said.
“Today, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, this brotherhood is growing into an even stronger strategic partnership, underpinned by our shared commitment to peace, security and the unity of the Muslim Ummah,” he added.
The prime minister also referred to the signing of the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement and the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in his message.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the mutual defence pact in September 2025, committing both sides to treat any aggression against either country as an attack on both.
Last month, Islamabad, Riyadh and Turkiye signed the Makkah Defence Alliance, under which an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against them all.
