Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has reaffirmed Pakistan’s unequivocal support for GCC’s efforts in assisting political transition in Yemen.
Aziz, who was representing Pakistan in a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Yemen convened in New York Wednesday on the sidelines of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, underlined that the Yemen crisis had serious implications for regional peace and stability and was a cause of great concern for all OIC countries.
Speaking at the meeting, chaired by the OIC secretary general and attended by representatives of the 18-member states including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Malaysia and Yemen, the adviser said Pakistan desired an immediate and peaceful resolution of the conflict to end sufferings of the Yemeni people and to save the country from further destruction.
Pakistan, Aziz said, felt encouraged by the recent positive developments as a result of which President Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi was able to return to Aden. Aziz appealed to all Yemeni parties to the conflict to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance so as to alleviate the sufferings of the innocent civilians caught in the conflict.
He said Pakistan’s policy on Yemen was guided by the principles of preserving the unity and territorial integrity of the country, observing relevant UNSC and OIC resolutions including the arms embargo, restoring the legitimate government of Mansour Hadi and seeking a lasting political settlement through inclusive dialogue.
Aziz further said Pakistan supported the efforts of UN secretary general’s special envoy to initiate the dialogue process. This was the first-ever meeting of the contact group since its establishment by the Extraordinary ICFM in Jeddah in June this year.
