Pakistan PM Warns Houthi Attack on Mecca, Medina Would Cross ‘Red Line’

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, warning that any threat to the sanctity of Islam’s holy cities of Mecca and Medina would cross a “red line that must never be crossed.”

Speaking at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Sharif described the reported attacks as “deplorable” and said they had angered Muslims around the world.

Saudi Arabia has accused Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group of targeting Mecca, while the Houthis have rejected the accusation as a “heinous lie.”

The warning comes after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement last month. Under the pact, an attack on one member is to be treated as an attack on all three.

On Friday, the military chiefs of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye met in Riyadh to discuss intelligence sharing, military coordination and collective defence.

The Pakistani military said the commanders reviewed threats facing Saudi Arabia and pledged to strengthen cooperation under the agreement. However, it remains unclear what military assistance Pakistan and Türkiye would provide if the conflict with the Houthis escalates.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said assistance could include intelligence, logistics and ammunition, with broader military support possible depending on the scale of the threat.

Sharif Calls for Diplomacy

In his UN address, Sharif also discussed the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran and Pakistan’s role in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

He said that despite continued missile, drone and military attacks, diplomacy must remain central to efforts to resolve the crisis.

Sharif also called for the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb waterways to remain open and secure, describing them as vital arteries of the global economy.

Pakistan Raises Palestine and Regional Issues

Sharif criticised Israel’s actions in Palestine and condemned what he described as Israeli aggression against Lebanon and Syria.

He also warned India that any attempt to stop, obstruct or divert Pakistan’s share of the Indus River waters would be regarded by Islamabad as an “act of war.”

On Kashmir, Sharif called for what he described as a just and fair resolution to the longstanding dispute between Pakistan and India.

He further accused armed groups operating from Afghanistan of carrying out attacks aimed at destabilising Pakistan and called for such attacks to stop. His comments came amid renewed fighting along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

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