India has condemned a Houthi drone attack near the holy city of Mecca, deeming it "concerning" and emphasizing opposition to actions that endanger civilians and civilian infrastructure. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting a drone south of Mecca, a claim denied by the Houthis who labeled it a "worn-out lie." Pakistan also condemned the alleged attempt on Mecca but clarified that the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, is "defensive" in nature, aiming for collective deterrence rather than aggressive action or territorial aspirations.

India has condemned a Houthi drone attack near the holy city of Mecca, deeming it "concerning" and emphasizing opposition to actions that endanger civilians and civilian infrastructure. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting a drone south of Mecca, a claim denied by the Houthis who labeled it a "worn-out lie." Pakistan also condemned the alleged attempt on Mecca but clarified that the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, is "defensive" in nature, aiming for collective deterrence rather than aggressive action or territorial aspirations.

India has condemned a Houthi drone attack near the holy city of Mecca, deeming it "concerning" and emphasizing opposition to actions that endanger civilians and civilian infrastructure. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting a drone south of Mecca, a claim denied by the Houthis who labeled it a "worn-out lie." Pakistan also condemned the alleged attempt on Mecca but clarified that the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, is "defensive" in nature, aiming for collective deterrence rather than aggressive action or territorial aspirations.

A day after the Houthi's sent drones targeting the holy city of Mecca, India on Wednesday condemned the act, terming it "concerning".

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India opposed any actions endangering the lives of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

“We are deeply concerned at the drone attack near Makkah. India reiterates its condemnation of attacks on the sovereign territory of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and of actions that endanger civilian lives and infrastructure. The incident near Makkah is particularly concerning, given the special significance of the city to Muslims across the world," he said.

Riyadh said Saudi air defences have intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Mecca on Tuesday. However, the Houthis rejected the allegation, saying claims about attack on Mecca was a "worn-out lie".

Pakistan has also condemned the alleged attempt to attack Mecca. However, Islamabad failed to keep the promises it made in the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed on August 7. The pact involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan stipulates that an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack on all of them.

But on Wednesday, Pakistan claimed the pact was "defensive" in nature. "It is defensive. There's nothing aggressive. There are no regional aspirations. It is collective deterrence," Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary told Al Arabiya.

Last week, Pakistan said there were no discussions about a military response against Houthis from Islamabad under the agreement. "There is no such thing under discussion right now ... When time comes (we) will act under the agreement," said Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan.

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