Pakistan remains committed to Makkah Accord, but operational details cannot be disclosed: FO

He said Pakistan remained committed to the “intent and spirit” of implementing the Makkah Accord, but details about “when and how, where and what force will be used against what objective and what objectives and which modes and matters” could not be disclosed at this stage. “Operational confidentiality requires some discretion at this stage,” Khan said.

Earlier in the briefing, the spokesperson said Pakistan was closely following the evolving situation in the Middle East amid continuing Houthi attacks.🔴LIVE: Spokesperson's Weekly Press Briefing 17-09-2026 at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabadhttps://t.co/MAG2wSCFIU— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@Foreign. Office.

Pk)September 17, 2026He 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,” Khan 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.

Read:Makkah defence pact has reached point of implementation: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif“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,” Khan said.

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.

Khan 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,” Khan said. “Pakistan continues to advocate dialogue and diplomacy as a means to resolving differences and avoiding further escalation,” he added.

Read more:Makkah defence pact has no regional aspirations, aimed at collective deterrence: DG ISPRKhan said Pakistan had welcomed the two-day visit of Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar to Pakistan on September 14 and 15, during which PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unwavering solidarity” with Lebanon’s leadership and people and its support for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He said that the two sides reviewed bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over growing cooperation in interior and security affairs. "The two interior ministers also signed an MoU on the transfer of sentenced persons, which provided a legal framework for convicted nationals to serve the remainder of their sentences in their respective home countries," he added.

The spokesperson said FM Dar had also spoken to International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi on September 15. They discussed the evolving regional situation and agreed that implementation of the Islamabad MoU remained “the most effective course of action” to reduce tensions in the region.

Mr Grossi had offered technical support if required. On India, Khan said the FO had summoned the Indian High Commission’s chargé d’affaires and lodged a “strong protest” over what Pakistan termed a “highly provocative and unacceptable” action by an Indian naval vessel in Pakistan’s exclusive economic zone on September 15.

He said the incident occurred while the Pakistan Navy was conducting its biennial Sea Spark 26 exercise., the Indian vessel carried out “aggressive manoeuvres in dangerously close proximity” to a Pakistani naval ship, resulting in contact between the two vessels.

The spokesperson said Pakistan considered the incident a “serious violation of international law” and the 1991 bilateral agreement on advance notice of military exercises, manoeuvres and troop movements. Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in New Delhi would also lodge a similar demarche with India’s Ministry of External Affairs, he said.

Also Read:No military response discussed under Makkah defence pact over Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia: FOKhan said Pakistan had called on India to “act responsibly, avoid provocative actions” and comply with international law and bilateral commitments aimed at preventing incidents at sea.

He also said Pakistan had hosted the 46th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, or SCO-RATS, in Islamabad on 14 September. The meeting discussed regional security issues and cooperation among member states against terrorism, separatism and extremism.

“Decisions were adopted to enhance information-sharing mechanisms,” Khan said, adding that members had also agreed to undertake joint activities in 2027. Pakistan’s chairmanship of the SCO-RATS Council had now passed to Russia, while the next meeting of the executive committee would be held in Tashkent.

Khan said PM Shehbaz would lead Pakistan’s delegation to the high-level segment of the 81st UNGA session in New York the following week. He said the prime minister would highlight Pakistan’s position on regional and global developments and reaffirm the importance of “dialogue, diplomacy, restraint and peaceful resolution of disputes”.

Khan said PM Shehbaz would outline Pakistan’s priorities on sustainable development, climate change, counter-terrorism, Islamophobia, global economic challenges, UN reform and issues facing the Global South. He would also raise the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine.

"During the visit, the prime minister would participate in high-level events and hold bilateral meetings with world leaders and the UN secretary-general," the spokesperson said. On Pakistan-China relations, Khan said the two countries had operationalised the Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission on September 16, with its inaugural meeting held at the Foreign Office in Islamabad.

"The commission would strengthen cooperation in border management, joint surveys, trade facilitation and people-to-people connectivity," he said. The spokesperson also announced the retirement of Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch after more than three decades of diplomatic service, saying she had made “valuable contributions” to Pakistan’s foreign policy and diplomatic service through her professionalism, commitment and leadership.