ISLAMABAD: Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz hinted on Wednesday at an emerging consensus in parliament against intervention in Yemen.

“There is a broad consensus in parliament that Pakistan’s involvement in the civil war in Yemen is not advisable,” he said while addressing a press conference along with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif at the Foreign Office.

In reply to a question, he shared the feelings prevailing in the joint session of parliament on the basis of the debate on the first three days. But he cautioned that the final decision of parliament could not be predicted.

Also read: Debate on Yemen

The recommendations by parliamentarians in their speeches, he said, suggested that “Pakistan should not participate in an offensive action, but try to mediate or to influence a peaceful solution through dialogue.”

The government has convened the session on the opposition’s request to discuss the Saudi request for joining the 10-nation military coalition against Yemen’s Houthi rebels amidst reports that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had tacitly assured the Saudis of military support. The parliamentary debate, which was earlier planned for three days, is likely to continue till Friday. The adviser further said that the parliamentarians had also expressed solidarity with the Saudis regarding the situation in neighbourhood.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2015

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