Pakistan's major opposition parties demanded that the government call a meeting of all parties over Saudi Arabia's request for military support in its fight against Yemen's Houthi rebels.
Pakistan's major opposition parties on Wednesday demanded that the government call a meeting of all parties over Saudi Arabia's request for military support in its fight against Yemen's Houthi rebels, even as a high-level Pakistani delegation is in Riyadh to deliberate on the issue.
Pakistan People's Party's (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari chaired a meeting with members from about half a dozen other parties in the opposition in Karachi to evolve a strategy over the issue of Pakistani troop deployment. They rejected any unilateral decision by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the issue of the Yemen conflict.
"We demand an All Parties Conference and then a joint session of the parliament to discuss the issue of sending troops," the parties said in a joint statement. Zardari said so far he has not been consulted by Sharif. "It is a very sensitive issue as the instability in the Middle East is dangerous and can spread to other places," he said.
The former president said dialogue could be a possible way forward to tackle the issue. Mutahida Qaumi Movement, Awami National Party, Jamiat Uleme-e-Islam were among the parties who attended the meeting. Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf did not attend the meeting. The former cricketer, however, has opposed the idea of sending troops for a coalition fighting the Houthi rebels.
The meeting today was held as a high-level Pakistani delegation led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif is in Saudi Arabia to discuss the issue. No formal statement has been issued on the substance of talks the delegation has held. The delegation would brief Prime Minister Sharif after its return.
Last week, Saudi government requested Pakistan to provide troops in support of its operation in Yemen where Iran-backed Shia Houthi rebels have taken control of the country. Pakistan is in tricky situation as sending troops could anger Iran, also an important neighbour of Pakistan.
Sharif's government has already said Pakistan is committed to ensure the territorial integrity of the Saudi kingdom, but no decision has been made on troops deployment. Several politicians and former army officers have warned the government against getting directly involved in the war in Yemen, saying the conflict has sectarian faultlines and can create domestic troubles. A Saudi Arabia-led military coalition is conducting airstrikes against the Houthi rebels' southward advance on the port city of Aden, the last bastion of Saudi-backed president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
Also Read: Pakistan denies sending fighter jets, naval ships to Yemen to take part in military action against Houthi rebels
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