ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday oversaw a top-level roundtable to deliberate on what should be Pakistan’s response in the wake of latest developments in crisis unfolding in Yemen.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Adviser to the PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant to the PM on Foreign Affairs Mr Tariq Fatemi, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee General Rashid Mehmood, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and the three service chiefs of Army, Air-force and Naval Staff were present on the occasion.
Earlier, Sharif said that Islamabad will “intensify” efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the Yemen conflict, after parliament voted to keep the country out of the Saudi-led coalition against anti-government rebels.
He said the restoration of Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi’s government, overthrown by Huthi Shiite rebels, would be an “important step forward towards establishing peace”.
The Pakistani parliament on Friday unanimously voted to remain neutral in the Yemen conflict, rebuffing long-term ally Riyadh’s request for troops, war planes and ships.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon says more than 600 people have been killed since the Saudi-led coalition began air strikes against the rebels on March 26.
Pakistan has pushed efforts to find a negotiated end to the fighting, holding talks last week with Iranian and Turkish officials to pursue this.
PM Nawaz holds high-level meeting on Yemen conflict
