Home Latest News Pakistan ‘Examining’ Saudi Request for Yemen Intervention

Pakistan ‘Examining’ Saudi Request for Yemen Intervention

by AFP
Aamir Qureshi—AFP

Aamir Qureshi—AFP

Islamabad confirms it has been contacted by Riyadh, but says no decision has been taken yet.

Pakistan is examining a request from Saudi Arabia to join a coalition to defend Yemen’s president against advancing rebels threatening his stronghold in Aden, Islamabad said Thursday.

The Gulf kingdom has begun airstrikes against Shia Houthi rebels and the Saudi ambassador in Washington said a coalition of 10 countries, including Pakistan, was being formed to protect the Yemeni government.

Yemen is teetering on the brink of civil war as turmoil has grown since the Houthis launched a power grab in February.

Islamabad has longstanding close ties to Saudi Arabia, and foreign office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said the kingdom had asked Pakistan to join the coalition. “I can confirm we have been contacted by Saudi Arabia in this regard. The matter is being examined. That’s all I have to say at the moment,” she told a regular press briefing.

Aslam said no decision had been taken yet on whether to close the Pakistani embassy in Sanaa.

The official Saudi Press Agency said earlier that Pakistan, along with Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Sudan, had all “expressed desire to participate in the operation.” Egypt and Jordan have confirmed they will join Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in the coalition.

Pakistan’s armed forces have been waging a major campaign against militant strongholds in the country’s tribal northwest since last June.

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4 comments

ali March 26, 2015 - 4:05 pm

Muslims WW has started

Reply
Kamran Amjad March 26, 2015 - 4:41 pm

It will be a most stupid decision if Pak joins operation in Yemen! Our own miseries are not finished yet!

Reply
Mumtaz Ahmad Shah March 26, 2015 - 6:26 pm

be aware non of them is Islamic countries . Saudi Arabia is protecting its ideology and Shies are criminals. Pakistan should support people who are having ideology of promoting pan Arabism and cooperation with Pakistan. Non Gulf country is legitimate. they are puppets of America to keep region divided. If new Yamen will for become part of Saudi Arabia then Pakistan should join. Pakistan’s relations with Iran should also be not get affected.

Reply
Sameer Qadir March 26, 2015 - 10:09 pm

We should despite our problems at home join this cause. It will apoease the hardline Sunni groups at home while showing India, that we as Pakistani’s are capable of fighting on many fronts simultaneously. And if we need volunteers to form a civil defence for internal security, I will volunteer. Pakistan Zindabad.

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