Pakistan condemns Houthi attack on Madinah power station as 'grave provocation'

Pakistan condemns Houthi attack on Madinah power station as ‘grave provocation’

Pakistan on Friday strongly condemned the Houthi militia attack on the Taibah power distribution station in Madinah, describing the strike on civilian infrastructure that supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque as a “grave provocation” and a threat to regional peace and security.

Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan issued the statement on Friday, three days after the September 29 drone attack. “This reprehensible attack against civilian infrastructure supplying electricity to the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) Mosque is a grave provocation and a matter of deep concern and anguish for millions of Muslims worldwide,” he said.

Islamabad called for an immediate and unconditional end to what it described as reckless actions that also constituted a grave threat to regional peace and security.

Full support for Saudi Arabia

Pakistan reaffirmed its unwavering solidarity with Saudi Arabia, expressing full support for the kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security. “We stand firmly with Saudi Arabia in its efforts to safeguard the Two Holy Mosques, protect its people and ensure the safety of pilgrims,” the statement said.

“Pakistan has been and will continue to make all efforts for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region,” the Foreign Office added.

What the Saudi-led coalition reported

The condemnation followed a statement a day earlier by the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthis, which said the group had attacked a power distribution station in Madina that supplies electricity to the Prophet’s (PBUH) Mosque. According to the coalition, the drone struck the station at 5:11am on September 29, and wreckage analysis had established Houthi involvement in planning and executing the attack.

The coalition said one transformer was taken out of service but the wider electricity network was not disrupted. The Houthis denied responsibility, describing the Saudi accusation as unfounded. The coalition called the attack part of repeated Houthi attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques and said it would continue taking measures to protect the holy sites and pilgrims.

A wider campaign against the kingdom

The Houthis have carried out repeated missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia since announcing a naval blockade on the kingdom in July. The group has targeted Saudi-linked vessels operating in the Red Sea as part of the campaign, further raising tensions in the region.

Last month, Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah before it entered restricted airspace over the city. The coalition described that incident as the second Houthi attempt to target Makkah since 2017.

The Makkah defence pact

The condemnation lands weeks after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah trilateral agreement on August 7, which provides for collective security and defence cooperation among the three states. The pact, later named the Makkah Defence Alliance, stipulates that an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack on all of them.

Frequently asked questions

What did Pakistan say about the Madinah attack?

Pakistan’s Foreign Office called the September 29 drone attack on the Taibah power station “a grave provocation” and demanded an immediate and unconditional end to such actions.

When and where did the attack happen?

The Saudi-led coalition said a Houthi drone struck the Taibah electricity distribution station in Madinah at 5:11am on September 29. One transformer was knocked out but the wider power network was not disrupted.

How has Pakistan positioned itself with Saudi Arabia?

Islamabad reaffirmed full support for Saudi sovereignty, territorial integrity and security, saying it stands firmly with the kingdom in safeguarding the Two Holy Mosques and ensuring pilgrim safety.

What is the Makkah Defence Alliance?

The Makkah Defence Alliance is the trilateral security pact signed on August 7 by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, under which an armed attack on any one member is treated as an attack on all three.