ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is chairing an important consultative meeting on Saudi-Yemen situation in Islamabad.
Several government high-ups are present in the meeting including Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry.
Pakistan’s parliament on Friday voted to stay out of the conflict in Yemen, rejecting Saudi demands for Islamabad to join its military coalition against Shiite Huthi rebels.
A unanimous resolution passed by a special session of parliament backed the government’s commitment to protect Saudi Arabia’s territory, which has so far not been threatened by the conflict.
But it said Pakistan should play a mediating role and not get involved in fighting in Yemen — turning down longstanding ally Riyadh’s request for troops, ships and warplanes. DNA