PM Nawaz Sharif: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are strategic partners, we want peaceful solution to Yemen conflict
Wajih Sani @wajih_sani 3m3 minutes ago
PM statement reaffirms the Parliamentary decision.
Pakistan does not abandon friends and strategic partners: Nawaz
DAWN.COM |
MATEEN HAIDER — UPDATED 2 minutes ago
Nawaz Sharif had called an urgent meeting of civil military leaders at PM House later on Monday afternoon. -DawnNews screengrab
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday upheld the Parliament’s resolution regarding the proposed role of Pakistan during the ongoing crises in Yemen and reiterated that Islamabad will intensify its diplomatic efforts in consultation with the leadership of Saudi Arabia.
“Parliament had affirmed in categorical terms that any violation of territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia will not be tolerated. This is promised despite the massive commitment of our troops in Zarb-e-Azb,” said Nawaz.
"Pakistan does not abandon friends and strategic partners," he maintained.
“We have already intensified our contacts with Saudi Arabia to monitor the ongoing situation,” said the premier while giving a policy statement after doing consultation with Military leadership.
Tension between Pakistan and long-time ally Saudi Arabia has risen in the past week, as Parliament unanimously passed a resolution urging the Sharif-led government to keep a neutral stance in the Yemen conflict.
Read Dawn editorial:
Arab frustration with Pakistan
Pakistan's Parliament on Friday passed a resolution backing the government's commitment to protect Saudi Arabia's territory from Houthi rebels, but declined Riyadh's request for Pakistani troops, ships and warplanes inside Yemen.
Expressing “unequivocal support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”, the resolution that the lawmakers agreed upon stated that “in case of any violation of its territorial integrity or any threat to Haramain Sharifain, Pakistan will stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia and its people”.
Anwar Gargash, the United Arab Emirate's (UAE) minister of state for foreign affairs, lashed out at Pakistan's vote Saturday, terming it “contradictory and dangerous and unexpected”, and accusing Islamabad of siding with Iran, which is accused of backing Houthi rebels.
Gargash added that Pakistan's stand would come at a "high cost."
But Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan hit back on Sunday night in an unusually strongly-worded statement, accusing the UAE of “levelling threats.”
“This is not only ironic but a thought-provoking moment that a minister of UAE is hurling threats at Pakistan. The statement of the UAE minister is in stark violation of all diplomatic norms prevalent according to the principals of international relations,” Nisar said.
Earlier, an urgent consultative meeting was called by Nawaz Sharif on the Yemen-Saudi Arabia issue at PM House.
Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Sartaj Aziz, Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry attended the meeting chaired by the premier.
