Apr 10 , 2015
News
Iranian FM discusses Yemen crisis with Pakistani army chief
* ISPR says focus of discussion remained on regional security including evolving situation in Middle East, Pak-Iran border management and defence and security cooperationISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Thursday, as the government wrestled with a dilemma over how to respond to a request from Saudi Arabia for Pakistani troops to fight in Yemen.
Zarif was winding up a two-day trip during which he was expected to urge Pakistan to reject the Saudi request for troops, planes and naval support for a Saudi-led coalition against Iran-allied Houthi fighters in Yemen.
General Raheel Sharif has publicly remained silent on the request. Army officials say they will defer to the civilian government.
Saudi Arabia’s request puts Pakistan in a tight spot. The nuclear-armed nation of 180 million people has strong economic, religious and military ties to Saudi Arabia but also a long and porous border with Iran in a mineral-rich region plagued by an insurgency.
A military statement on the meeting between Zarif and Sharif emphasised border difficulties and possible defence cooperation.
“Focus of the discussion remained on regional security including the evolving situation in the Middle East, Pak-Iran border management and defence and security cooperation between both the countries,” it said.
“The unity and integrity of Muslim Ummah (community) and greater harmony amongst the Muslims was emphasized.”
A Saudi-led coalition began air strikes against Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen last month. Iran denies Saudi and US accusations that it has armed the Houthis, who hail from the Zaidi branch of Shia Islam.
The Iranian foreign minister also held a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday.
Talking to Mohammad Javad Zarif, Nawaz stressed the need to ponder the ways and means to bring an end to the conflict at the earliest by peaceful means.
The prime minister expressed serious concern over the deteriorating situation in Yemen, which he said was so grave that it could endanger fellow Muslim countries.
Besides the loss of innocent lives, the crisis can undermine the unity of Muslim world, he said.
The prime minister stated that Iran is a brotherly country and an important neighbour with which the government and people of Pakistan desire friendly and cooperative ties.
Bilateral relations and regional issues of common concern came under discussion during the meeting.
Referring to the debate in the joint session of parliament, the prime minister stated that the people of Pakistan hold the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in high esteem and would stand shoulder to shoulder with the Saudi people of Saudi Arabia if its territorial integrity was violated.
He said that it was the shared responsibility of all states to refrain from actions that disturb peace and stability in any country. He informed the foreign minister of his efforts to promote peace in Yemen in concert with other Muslim countries.
He expressed the hope that the leadership of the Muslim countries would recognise that the continuing conflict in Yemen represents a serious threat to the Ummah and, therefore, they must work together to find a negotiated settlement of this issue.
The foreign minister agreed on the need to work towards an early settlement of the conflict and presented his government’s perspective on exploring different options for resolving the crisis in Yemen. He briefed the prime minister on the understanding his country had reached with the P5+1 on the nuclear issue.
The prime minister expressed his satisfaction on the peaceful resolution of the issue and wished further success in conclusion of a comprehensive agreement by June 2015.
Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Alireza Haghighian; Governor General Sistan-Balochistan, Ali Osat Iashemil; and Advisor of the Minister and Deputy of Media Diplomacy, Sayyed Mohammad Ali Hosseni accompanied the minister.
Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security, Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Tariq Fatemi; Secretary to Prime Minister Javed Aslam and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry also attended the meeting.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk