Prime Minister to discuss the Yemen conflict with Turkish leadership

[Saifullah Sani]

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will leave for Turkey today (Friday) as part of Pakistan's diplomatic venture for exchanging views with the Turkish leadership for bringing a peaceful resolution to the Yemen conflict.

According to Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam, the visit of the Prime Minister to Turkey was agreed during his telephonic conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday. "Given the excellent relations between Pakistan and Turkey and the personal rapport between the leadership of the two countries, the Prime Minister and the President of Turkey will exchange views on the situation related to Yemen," she said, adding they will also discuss how the two countries can help in addressing the issue.

In her weekly press briefing, the spokesperson referred to the high-level meeting on Friday in which it was decided that the joint session of the parliament would discuss the Yemen situation. She said that any decision about sending troops to Saudi Arabia would be taken by the parliament according to peoples' aspirations and national interest. "The aspirations of the people of Pakistan will be articulated when their representatives meet on Monday in Parliament," she added.

The spokesperson said that consultations are under way and Pakistan's concerned authorities will stay engaged with the Saudi authorities. She said that Pakistan has called upon the warring groups in Yemen to move towards dialogue, besides reiterating its commitment to protect the territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia. She said Pakistan condemns all non-state actors for seeking to overthrowing a legitimate government of Yemen.

Giving updates about the on-going operation to bring stranded Pakistanis back home, she said that 186 stranded Pakistanis embarked to Djibouti through Chinese ship earlier Friday and they will be brought back to Pakistan through special flight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

She said Pakistan's Embassy in Ethiopia will take care of the immigration, transit, transport, and other necessary arrangements of these Pakistanis.

The spokesperson said in Al-Mukallah, Pakistan's ship has already arrived. However, due to overnight skirmishes evacuation of 175 Pakistanis already present on the port could not be started. She said as soon as they are cleared by the military authorities of the port, these stranded Pakistanis would be directly brought back to Karachi.

About Yemeni capital Sana'a, she said around 155 Pakistanis have assembled there and are in constant contact of Foreign Office's crisis management cell.

To a question, the spokesperson described the media reports as rumours and false that some Pakistanis stranded in Yemen were killed, saying that as per the information obtained from the community all Pakistanis were safe so far.

About the mission in Sana'a, she said that the embassy was closed temporarily but we will continue to assess the situation and decide when we will reopen our mission in Yemen.

To another question regarding Pakistan's support to Saudi Arabia, she said not a single political party of the country is of the opinion that protection of Saudi Arabia or holy places is not Pakistan's responsibility. To another query that Pakistan's Ambassador in Iran has been called by the Iranian Foreign Office to express concern over Pakistan's position on Yemen, she said that Pakistan's Ambassador in Tehran probably visits the Iranian Foreign Ministry two or three times a week. "We discuss bilateral relations, regional situation and other issues of mutual interest," she said.

Similarly, Iranian Ambassador in Pakistan also frequently stays in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and these are regular bilateral engagements, she said.

The spokesperson also rejected the impression that its commitment of providing security to Saudi territorial integrity was not a message targeted towards Iran.

"No, the message is not targeted towards Iran. How Iran does come into it? This is not our assessment. The situation in Yemen is complicated and it has a history," she added.

To a question about Iran-US nuclear talks, the spokesperson said that Pakistan's position on the dialogue has been very clear and consistent from the beginning.

"We called for a resolution of the issue through a dialogue long before the talks actually started. It is our earnest desire that this dialogue would be concluded successfully," she said, adding intensive discussions that are taking place right now give us hope that there would be some positive outcome.

Prime Minister to discuss situation with Turkish leadership | Business Recorder

 

[Musafir117]

Question
Does he have brain to discuss?
Answer
Disgusting

 

[Sunan]

Thats a good move by PM nawaz sharif..

 

[That Guy]

Pakistan's position on Yemen is none of Iran's business, stay away from Pakistan's internal and external politics and decision making that don't involve you.

 

[Drebin]

Pakistan's position on Yemen is none of Iran's business, stay away from Pakistan's internal and external politics and decision making that don't involve you.

In a way, same could be said of Pakistan in Iran since they're actively supporting the Houthis in any and every way. No?

 

[That Guy]

In a way, same could be said of Pakistan in Iran since they're actively supporting the Houthis in any and every way. No?

Yemen's affairs should have nothing to do with Iran. The Iranians made a mistake helping the Houthis, and they're going to face the consequences eventually.

 

[Imran Khan]

nawaz is stuck man hahahaha say no to saudi nowwwwwwwwwwwwwww

 

[Drebin]

Yemen's affairs should have nothing to do with Iran. The Iranians made a mistake helping the Houthis, and they're going to face the consequences eventually.

Indeed. Yet it does. And as per yesterday's news, the so called Houthi(Shia) troops -being funded and supported by Iran- had taken over the presidential palace along with the capital itself. So any talk of consequences is far fetched in my humble opinion. And to further add insult to injury, they've YET to face any consequences of their intervention in Iraq, Syria and Libya. Not to forget today's front page news that P5+1 have reached the landmark nuclear deal with Iran. Thus, making lifting of sanctions imminent and, further expanding Iran's role in the region as well as it's interventionist policies.

So, in my humble views, there can be no solution to Yemen crisis without Iran. Sooner we accept the reality, the better. Unless, KSA wants to take it up a notch then, they'll have to send in the ground troops to push back the Houthis and retake the territory. If so, it will be bloodier, messier and a prolonged engagement which will directly effect Saudi economy. WIll they do it? That's the big questions. And one more thing which isn't being discussed as much is the constant pressure of Saudi Government on Pakistan as well as on Egypt for provision of their active army personnel inside KSA for spearheading the Yemen offensive. Question arises that why do they require OUR support so desperately? That's because of the fact that, 40% of Saudi Army consist of troops who trace back their roots to Yemen. There's a historical background to it as how KSA imported most of the Yemeni population for labor and, it's almost a century old tale. Thus, the real fear of KSA is widespread rebellion among it's own ranks and a NEW separatist movement initiating inside her own borders. If that happens, then KSA as we know may cease to exist.

Therefore, from what I can gauge, there's NO solution to Yemen crisis minus Iran. And, other Arab states aren't as blind as not to see the direction of wind blowing these days. Thus, no one will commit their Army and, the max they could have done was to pledge their air support, which has completely failed to stall Houthi movement.

So, I think we should realize the facts and try our utmost to resolve this issue peacefully and with talks. Because there's NO OTHER SOLUTION.

My two cents on the topic.

Peace.