Pakistan warns Houthi attacks on Mecca or Medina would cross a red line as regional tensions rise and defence ties deepen.
Pakistan Warns Houthi Attack on Mecca or Medina Would Cross Red Line
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, warning that any threat to the sanctity of Mecca and Medina would cross a red line that must never be breached.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Sharif described the reported attacks as deeply concerning and said any strike threatening the Muslim holy cities would outrage Muslims around the world.
Saudi Arabia has accused the Iran-aligned Houthi movement of targeting areas near Mecca. The Houthis have rejected the accusation, describing it as a false and serious allegation.
The warning comes amid growing regional tensions and closer defence cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye Strengthen Defence Cooperation
Last month, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, establishing a framework for closer security and defence cooperation.
Under the agreement, an attack against one member is to be treated as an attack against all three countries. However, Pakistan and Turkiye have so far avoided direct military involvement in Saudi Arabia’s continuing confrontation with the Houthis.
The military chiefs of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye met in Riyadh on Friday to discuss the regional security situation. Their talks reportedly focused on intelligence sharing, military coordination and collective defence.
The meeting also examined ways to turn the commitments under the Mecca defence agreement into practical cooperation.
It remains unclear what level of military assistance Pakistan and Turkiye could provide if the conflict escalates further. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated that assistance could include intelligence, logistics and ammunition, while broader military support could depend on the scale of the threat.
Pakistan Calls for Diplomacy in Middle East Crisis
In his UN address, Sharif also spoke about the wider Middle East conflict, including the war involving Iran and the United States and Israel.
Pakistan has attempted to play a diplomatic role in efforts to reduce regional tensions. Islamabad’s mediation efforts resulted in a memorandum between Washington and Tehran that was intended to help end the conflict. However, the agreement has since broken down as regional tensions have continued.
Sharif urged world leaders to give diplomacy a stronger role amid continuing missile, drone and military attacks.
He also highlighted the importance of keeping major international shipping routes open. The Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb are critical waterways for global trade and energy supplies.
According to Sharif, these strategic routes are essential arteries of the global economy and must remain safe and accessible.
Pakistan Raises Palestine and Regional Security Issues
The Pakistani prime minister also condemned Israel’s military actions in Palestine and criticised what he described as Israeli aggression in Lebanon and Syria.
The situation in Palestine remains a major issue for Pakistan, which has repeatedly called for international action to protect civilians and support a political solution to the conflict.
Sharif’s comments came as several Middle Eastern countries continued to call for an end to escalating violence and greater diplomatic efforts to resolve regional disputes.
Pakistan-India Tensions Over Indus Waters
Sharif also used his UN speech to address Pakistan’s longstanding disputes with India.
He accused India of attempting to weaponise the Indus water system, which has been jointly managed by the two countries for decades. Pakistan and India depend heavily on the rivers originating in the Himalayan region for agriculture, drinking water and economic activity.
Sharif warned that any attempt to stop, obstruct or divert Pakistan’s allocated water supply would be considered an act of war by Islamabad.
He also called for a fair and lasting solution to the Kashmir dispute, with both Pakistan and India continuing to claim the disputed territory.
Pakistan has also raised concerns about alleged demographic and legal changes in Kashmir, while India maintains its own position on the disputed region.
Pakistan Faces Growing Threat From TTP
Another major security concern for Islamabad is the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Sharif accused armed groups operating from areas inside Afghanistan of carrying out attacks intended to destabilise Pakistan. He called for attacks originating from Afghan territory to stop.
His comments came amid renewed Pakistan-Afghanistan border tensions and clashes involving Pakistani forces and Afghan Taliban fighters.
The latest fighting highlights the growing security challenges along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and adds another layer to Islamabad’s regional security concerns.
With tensions rising across the Middle East and South Asia, Pakistan is seeking a combination of stronger defence cooperation, diplomatic engagement and international support to address threats to its national and regional security.
