Pakistan PM calls Houthi Mecca attacks 'red line' at UN

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said at the UN Friday that further attacks on the Islamic holy city of Mecca would be a "red line" for Islamabad.

Pakistan maintains ties with Iran which backs the Houthi fighters responsible for firing missiles at Saudi Arabia where Mecca is situated.

But Islamabad is strategically close to Saudi, and entered into a defense agreement with the kingdom, and Turkey, last month.

"We once again condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the recent deplorable attacks by the Houthis against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Sharif said at the UN's gathering of world leaders in New York. 

"The attempted drone attack on the holy city of Mecca al-Mukarramah has outraged Muslims across the globe. Any threat to safety and sanctity... is a red line that must never be crossed. No Muslim can even dare to think of committing such a heinous (act)."

Last week, Riyadh accused the Houthis of targeting Mecca for the first time since 2017 with a drone that was downed, an accusation the Houthis denied.

Saudi Arabia intercepted Houthi ballistic missiles on Thursday after issuing warnings for several regions including Mecca.

The missiles were the latest in a series of escalating Houthi attacks since July, when renewed hostilities shattered a years-long truce and embroiled Yemen in the wider Middle East war.

gw/msp