Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tells Saudi Arabia that Pakistan stands “shoulder to shoulder” with the kingdom to safeguard its sovereignty, security and the sanctity of Islam’s holiest sites in a message marking the country’s National Day, observed on September 23. He congratulates Saudi Arabia on its progress and reiterates Pakistan’s condemnation of recent Houthi attacks, including an attempted drone attack on Makkah.
Sharif says threats to the Haramain Sharifain “deeply” affect Muslims worldwide and links the message to regional security developments. Sources also note the context of ongoing fighting in Yemen, which has drawn in Riyadh, including Houthi maritime actions in the Red Sea. Across coverage, the emphasis is on the strengthening Pakistan-Saudi relationship and shared security interests.
The outlets also reference defence cooperation between the two countries, including the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, under which an attack on either state is treated as aggression against both, and the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, which broadens collective response involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey. While both sources align on the main message, they mainly differ in how much background they provide on the agreements and the broader regional situation.
