Nawaz Sharif chairs a high-level meeting at the PM house. PHOTO: INP
No details were given in an official communiqué issued after the session, but sources told The Express Tribune that the meeting discussed the premier’s recent visit to Turkey, the upcoming visit of Iran’s foreign minister, the ongoing joint session of parliament and any possible resolution to be passed by lawmakers.
Saudi Arabia has requested Pakistan for military armament and troops to fight the Houthi rebellion against President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi in Yemen. And, according to sources, Riyadh has sent a fresh reminder asking Islamabad to fulfill the commitments it has made within seven days.
According to the government’s assessment, the parliamentary debate on the Yemen crisis might go into Friday. And if this happens, then the government would give its response – which will most probably be in the affirmative – to the oil-rich kingdom over the weekend.
Sources said Premier Nawaz briefed the military leadership about his official engagements in Ankara. Turkey is willing to join the Saudi-led regional alliance if Pakistan does. Moreover, the two countries also agreed to convince Iran to withdraw its support from Houthi rebels.
Sources said that Ankara has already called upon Tehran to withdraw its support for the Houthis. Iran is amenable – but with certain conditions. Emboldened by its nuclear deal with Western powers, Tehran wants to see Turkey as a gateway to Europe for trade.
Iran also wants Pakistan not to jump into the Yemen fray militarily. Sources, however, said that Pakistani officials would categorically tell Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is due in Islamabad on April 8, that Tehran must stop supporting the Houthi rebellion in Yemen. Sources said that if Tehran refused to give up its support for the Houthis, then Islamabad would say that supporting the Saudis was in its national interest.
About the policy statement read out by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in parliament, sources said it was drafted with the consensus of the premier’s top foreign policy aide Sartaj Aziz and the security establishment.
Sources said a possible resolution to be passed by parliament would not give a commitment that Pakistani troops would not go beyond the borders of Saudi Arabia or would not conduct missions in Yemen. They said the resolution would diplomatically give the go-ahead for the government to meet the Saudi requirements.
According to the official statement, the meeting was attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Sartaj Aziz, army chief Gen Raheel Sharif, CJCSC Gen Rashad Mahmood, naval chief Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman and other top officials.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 7th, 2015.
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