- PM Sharif says he has asked Iran to bring Houthi rebels to Yemen talks table
- PM gives Pakistan’s assurance to stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia in line with its long term commitments to strategic ally
- Allays misinterpretation over Parliament’s resolution on Yemen war
With the decision to commit Pakistan’s troops to Saudi Arabia’s cause in Yemen hanging in limbo, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has urged a peaceful solution to the Yemen crisis through dialogue with warring factions and reiterated the importance of the Saudi Kingdom as a ‘strategic ally’.
“I told Iranian Foreign Minister Javed Zarif that Houthi rebels have set a dangerous precedent that was fraught with serious risks for the entire region. I urged Zarif to use Iranian influence to bring Houthi rebels on the talks’ table. We have already intensified contacts with Saudi Arabia to monitor the ground situation and possible threats to the security and territorial integrity of the Kingdom. We believe that the restoration of President Hadi’s government will be an important step forward towards establishing peace in Yemen,” PM Sharif said, giving a policy statement on Yemen issue after consultation with the military leadership.
The premier was flanked by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry, Tariq Fatemi and Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid.
BUT THERE IS A MISUNDERSTANDING:
In his address on Monday, PM Sharif upheld Parliament’s recent resolution to stay ‘neutral’ in the Yemen conflict, and repeated the words of the resolution regarding the importance of Saudi Arabia as an ally. “We stand with them shoulder to shoulder,” he said.
The prime minister said they were also in touch with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to assure them that their disappointment was based on an apparent misinterpretation of the Parliament’s resolution.
“We want to assure the GCC that their frustration was due a miscommunication in the interpretation of the stand of our Parliament. There should be no doubt about our policy; we do not abandon friends.”
WITH YOU DESPITE ODDS:
Pakistan firmly believes that President Mansur Hadi’s government will be important to maintain peace and stability in Yemen, said the premier, adding that media reports have been speculative and have created misunderstandings.
“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 Sharif.
He said that from the very start, Pakistan’s policy was based on the following principles: “The importance of Saudi Arabia as one of our most important strategic allies; The sanctity of the two Holy Mosques and full support to their Custodian; Pakistan’s long term commitment to Saudi sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability which has been the main pillar of our foreign policy pursued by successive governments; Our firm assurance to our Saudi brothers that we shall stand shoulder to shoulder with them.”
The resolution passed by the Parliament on April 10, the prime minister said, fully endorsed these principles and strengthened the hands of the government for playing a positive and constructive role. He said the Resolution had affirmed, in clear and categorical terms, that any violation of the Saudi territorial sovereignty or threat to the two Holy Mosques would evoke a strong response from Pakistan.
The prime minister’s address comes after a somewhat heated exchange of response among officials of Pakistan and UAE over Pakistan’s allegedly ambiguous stance on Saudi Arabia-led coalition’s military help in Yemen.