ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Saleh bin Abdul Aziz on Sunday said the Pakistan Parliament’s resolution on Yemen was the country’s internal matter. But the Saudi minister did go on to say that his country expects better from Pakistan.

Abdul Aziz, along with a five-member delegation, arrived in Pakistan on Sunday to discuss the situation in Yemen and to further ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Abdul Aziz said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are brotherly countries who have come out to help each other in the past. He said the relationship between the two countries will remain strong going forward.

Ever since the Saudi-led alliance began its offensive against Houthi rebels in Yemen, Pakistan has been under immense pressure from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for military support in the region.

Since then, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has chaired several high-level meetings with civil and military officials to determine Pakistan’s involvement in the conflict. While the government has clearly stated it will defend Saudi Arabia’s “territorial integrity,” it is yet to commit troops and resources to the Saudi-led offensive in Yemen.

On Friday, a joint session of the Parliament, summoned by premier Nawaz Sharif to debate Pakistan’s involvement in Yemen, called for Pakistan taking a neutral stance in the war.

Know more: Parliament calls for neutrality in Yemen conflict

While this resolution seems to resonate a majority opinion in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies want Pakistan to stand by their side and partake in the ground and air offensive against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Also read: UAE minister warns Pakistan of ‘heavy price for ambiguous stand’ on Yemen