WR Desk: The Foreign Office (FO) declined to disclose operational details of Pakistan’s commitments under the Makkah Accord, saying “operational confidentiality” required discretion over when and how any response would be carried out.

"Pakistan is committed to the intent and spirit of implementing the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) and the Makkah Accord. However, details regarding when and how, where, what force would be used, against which objectives, and through which means cannot be disclosed at this stage. Operational confidentiality requires some discretion at this time," said FO spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan during a weekly press briefing while responding to questions about how Pakistan would ensure that Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia were thwarted and the kingdom’s territorial integrity remained intact.

Earlier in the briefing, the spokesperson said Pakistan was closely following the evolving situation in the Middle East amid continuing Houthi attacks.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had condemned in the strongest possible terms the “dastardly” attempted drone attack against the holy sites in Makkah al-Mukarramah.

“The people of Pakistan were deeply saddened and perturbed by this outrageous act,” he quoted the prime minister as saying.

The prime minister had said there could be “no words strong enough” to convey the depth of Pakistanis’ anguish and sorrow over the “reprehensible and unforgivable incident”.

He had also praised the “extraordinary vigilance, courage and professionalism” demonstrated by the Royal Saudi Armed Forces in their response, while calling on all parties to exercise “maximum restraint” and step back from further escalation.

“Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder unwaveringly with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the security and sanctity of Haramain Sharifain,”.

He said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had also condemned the attempted drone attack on Makkah, saying such an attack violated Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, offended the religious sentiments of Muslims worldwide and threatened regional peace and security.

He said Pakistan had earlier in the week also strongly condemned drone attacks targeting the East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions, which had damaged the pipeline and injured civilians.

PM Shehbaz had spoken to Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman on September 13 and reiterated Pakistan’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its commitment to supporting efforts for de-escalation and peace in the region.

“Pakistan remains concerned over the continuing escalation and its implications for regional peace, security, maritime navigation, as well as global energy supplies,”. “Pakistan continues to advocate dialogue and diplomacy as a means to resolving differences and avoiding further escalation,”.