Houthi attack on Mecca, Medina would cross ‘red line’, Pakistan PM tells UN

Pakistan's prime minister has condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, warning that any "threat to the sanctity" of the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina is a "red line that must never be crossed".

Key points

• Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Shehbaz Sharif denounced recent Houthi attacks as "deplorable".
• Last month, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed a trilateral defence pact, formally known as the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement.
• While condemning "Israeli aggression against Lebanon and Syria", the Pakistani prime minister additionally denounced what he described as Israel's "genocidal agenda" in Palestine.
• Pakistan's efforts culminated in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Washington and Tehran.
• Another pressing matter for Islamabad is the threat posed by the Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban.

He continued that an attack by the Iran-aligned Yemeni group. It riyadh states targeted Mecca, "outraged Muslims across the globe". The Houthis have dismissed the accusations as a "heinous lie".

Last month, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed a trilateral defence pact, formally known as the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. The pact states that an attack on any member will be treated as an attack on all. Nevertheless, Islamabad and Ankara have refrained from getting involved in Riyadh's ongoing fight with the Houthis.

Notably, the ⁠military ⁠chiefs of all three countries met in Riyadh on Friday and ⁠discussed enhancing intelligence sharing and military ⁠coordination, ‌the Pakistani military remarked. The chiefs reviewed the security situation and ⁠threats facing Saudi Arabia, ⁠affirmed a commitment to collective defence and ⁠pledged to turn ⁠Mecca Agreement commitments into effective cooperation, the ‌army continued.

It is not clear what, if any, backing Ankara and Islamabad may provide to Riyadh. In a written interview published by the US media outlet Newsweek on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan remarked backing could include "intelligence, logistics or ammunition, with more extensive military assistance possible depending on the scale of the threat".

As well as Islamabad's role as a co-mediator, in Sharif's UN address, he additionally referenced the US-Israeli war that was rolled out against Iran in late February.

Pakistan's efforts culminated in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Washington and Tehran. It was intended to support end the conflict.

Notably, the accord has since unravelled while regional countries push for a conclusive end to the war. It has caused a global energy crisis and exacerbated tensions throughout the Middle East.

"Yet amid the roar of missiles, drones and guns, the voice for diplomacy must echo even louder and stronger, " Sharif remarked.

He continued that the Strait of Hormuz. It iran has effectively blockaded, and the Bab al-Mandeb waterway, which is now largely under Houthi control, are "arteries of the global economy" that should remain free and safe.

While condemning "Israeli aggression against Lebanon and Syria", the Pakistani prime minister additionally denounced what he described as Israel's "genocidal agenda" in Palestine. These were sentiments echoed earlier in the day by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in his UN General Assembly address. Closer to home, Sharif's speech touched on tensions with Pakistan's neighbours.

Criticising India, he accused New Delhi of weaponising the Indus waters. It both countries have jointly managed for more than six decades. The two neighbours heavily rely on the Himalayan river network.

Sharif cautioned that "any attempt to stop, impede or divert Pakistan's share of the waters will be treated as an act of war".

He additionally called on what he described as a "just and fair solution" to the Kashmir dispute. It both Pakistan and India claim in its entirety. Sharif alleged that there have been attempts to "alter the legal status" of Kashmir through demographic engineering.

Another pressing matter for Islamabad is the threat posed by the Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban. Sharif remarked groups operate from "sanctuaries inside Afghanistan, with the aim of destabilising Pakistan", insisting that attacks rolled out from Afghanistan "must come to a grinding halt".

This comes as the latest cross-border fighting left a number of Afghan Taliban fighters dead on Friday.

For now, houthi attack on Mecca, Medina would cross 'red line', Pakistan PM tells remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.