Former Information Minister Mushahid Hussain Syed has claimed that Israel carried out a false flag operation involving a drone intercepted near Makkah, alleging that the incident was intended to provoke conflict between Muslim countries.
Speaking on a private media outlet’s talk show, hosted by journalist Saleem Safi, Mushahid Hussain said that he did not believe any Muslim government or group would deliberately target Makkah or Madinah.
“I believe this was a false flag operation by Israel. I don’t believe any Muslim, whether part of a government, a non-state actor, or even a so-called terrorist could ever consider attacking the holy sanctuaries of Muslims, Makkah and Madinah,” he said.
Saudi Arabia had said that its air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Makkah before it entered the holy city’s restricted airspace. Saudi authorities attributed the drone to Yemen’s Houthi group, while the Houthis denied targeting Makkah or any other Islamic holy site.
Mushahid Hussain added that the incident could have been aimed at provoking tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia or involving Pakistan in the conflict.
The former minister also rejected the possibility of Pakistan becoming involved in the ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, saying that Pakistan’s commitment under the Makkah Pact was limited to defending Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity against external aggression.
He referred to a 2015 parliamentary resolution under which Pakistan decided to remain neutral in the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen.
Mushahid Hussain said that Pakistan had historically responded differently when Israel was involved, citing Pakistani pilots who fought alongside Jordan in 1967 and Syria in 1973.
The discussion also touched on Saudi Arabia’s request for United States (US) assistance. Mushahid Hussain mentioned that Riyadh’s main defence relationship remained with Washington and predated its more recent security arrangements with Pakistan and Turkiye.
He said that Saudi Arabia had relied on the US for military equipment and security guarantees for decades, while the Makkah Pact was a recent development.
