Iran foreign minister: Pakistan, Iran must work together on Yemen
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Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday Pakistan and Iran should cooperate to solve the deepening crisis in war-ravaged Yemen. Zarif spoke during a two-day visit to the Pakistani capital in which he was expected to urge Islamabad to reject a Saudi request that it join a military operation against Shi’ite Muslim Houthi forces in Yemen.
“We need to work together to find a political solution,” he said. “It’s the Yemenis who should sit at the table to solve the crisis and everybody including Iran and Saudi Arabia should facilitate.” “The people of Yemen should not have to face aerial bombardment,” he added, referring to air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition that started last month.
Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia has asked Pakistan to send planes, boats and troops to the operation. Pakistani lawmakers have been debating the request for the past three days, and not one has spoken in favour of intervention in Yemen.
“The consensus that is emerging in parliament is that Pakistan should not participate in any military offensive. We should try to mediate, influence and facilitate peaceful dialoge,” said Sartaj Aziz, the prime minister’s adviser on security and foreign affairs.
Zarif said he favoured a four-part plan for Yemen: to impose a ceasefire, deliver humanitarian assistance, open a broad-based dialogue and finally establish a broad-based government. He recommended this to Pakistani, Turkish and Omani leaders, he said. Many fear the conflict could become a proxy battleground for a sectarian war.
via NorthEast Calling http://ift.tt/1Dl6rlQ
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