A high-level Pakistani delegation, led by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and Sartaj Aziz, foreign affairs and national security adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, discussed different options to deal with the Yemeni crisis during a meeting on Tuesday evening.
The visiting delegation, which also comprises top-level representatives from the Pakistani defense forces, met Crown Prince Muqrin, Defense Minister Prince Mohammad bin Salman and other high-ranking Saudi officials. The meeting discussed important issues concerning Operation Decisive Storm in Yemen and assessed Pakistani participation in the Kingdom-led operation to fight the Houthis.
The defence minister and top military officials embarked on visit to Saudi Arabia amid reports that Pakistan is likely to send troops to the kingdom. The government however denied any immediate decision in this context. Media cell of prime minister house issued a statement that any violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Saudi Arabia would evoke a strong reaction from Pakistan, according to the aspirations of the people of Pakistan.
Although Pakistan has great ties with Saudi Arabia but we suggest Pakistan would be wise to restrict its support to the kind of rhetoric which is not hard to come to lips of Pakistani politicians. Considering the fact that neither the two Holy Mosques nor the territorial integrity of the kingdom are under any kind of threat. If we put a glance on our internal matters we will find out that we are in an all out state of war ourselves with many fronts open against the Pakistani Taliban, who have waged war against the state. The army is already stretched too thin fighting our homegrown militants, who have killed more than 50,000 civilians so far. How can we afford to get involved in regional warfare? It would be in the best of interests of all if Pakistan can play role in mediation for the peaceful settlement of the Yemen crisis.