ISLAMABAD: The government delayed on Friday the departure of a high-level delegation to Saudi Arabia for assessing the needs of the kingdom in its fight against Houthi militia in Yemen.

The visit was postponed because of a two-day Arab League summit beginning on Saturday in the Egyptian port city of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The situation in Yemen where a Saudi-led coalition launched strikes on Wednesday is on top of the summit’s agenda. It will also discuss the situation in Syria and Libya.

Know more: Pakistan will not participate in conflict that divides Muslim Ummah: Khawaja Asif

On Thursday, the government announced that a delegation led by Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif would visit Riyadh to discuss its request for joining the anti-Houthi alliance.

The decision was taken at a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after Saudi Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz and intelligence chief Khalid bin Bandar called to press their demand for Pakistan’s participation in the operation against Houthis.

Although Islamabad has been keeping the final decision vague, Saudi media is insisting that Pakistan has agreed to join the coalition.

Khawaja Asif told the National Assembly on Friday that the delegation would visit Saudi Arabia at the start of next week for assessing the kingdom’s defence needs. Senior military officials will accompany the delegation.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Pervez Rashid said that Pakistan’s response to threats to the territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia should not be taken as interference in affairs of other countries.

Speaking at a training workshop on media management on terrorism and extremism at the Police College in Sihala, he said that since terrorism was an international problem, Pakis­tan would be part of all efforts against it.

“Any decision regarding Pakistan’s response to threats to Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity and sending troops to participate in any operation will be taken in the best interest of the country,” he added.

Answering a question about reports that Pakistan would send troops to Saudi Arabia for taking part in Al-Hazm Storm Operation, Mr Rashid said no such decision had so far been taken.

He said Pakistan’s efforts for eliminating terrorism from Afghanistan were yielding positive results.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2015

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