28 Mar 2024
Tuesday 7 April 2015 - 13:52
Story Code : 158843

Pakistan PM says Iran should be involved in Yemen debate

(Reuters) - Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called on Tuesday forIranto get involved in a debate on security inYemenas parliament resumed debate on whetherPakistanshould join a Saudi-led campaign against Iran-allied Yemeni forces.

Sharif addressed parliament a day after the defense minister revealed Saudi wanted Pakistani warplanes, warships and soldiers. Not a single MP has spoken in favor of sending troops.

Saudi Arabia, the Gulf's main Sunni Muslim power, has asked Sunni-majorityPakistanto join a Saudi-led military coalition that began conducting air strikes last month against largely Shi'ite Houthi forces inYemen.

Pakistani intervention would anger Shi'ite powerIran, which shares a long and porous border in a region roiling with its own separatist insurgency.

The Iranian foreign minister visitsPakistanon Wednesday and discussions onYemenare expected to dominate the meeting. Sharif said he welcomed Iranian input.

"Iranshould also join the discussion and evaluate whether their policy is correct or not," Sharif said.

Sharif has repeatedly said he will defend any threat to Saudi Arabia's "territorial integrity" without defining what threat that could be, or what action he would take.

Joining the Saudi-led coalition could inflame a sectarian conflict at home where about a fifth of the population is Shi'ite and attacks on Shi'ites are increasing, further destabilizing the nuclear-armed nation of 180 million people.

"If we get involved inYemen, a huge blaze will once again erupt in our country," veteran opposition lawmaker Ghulam Ahmed Bilour told parliament. "My army is not a rent-an-army,"

In the debate on Monday, Aitzaz Ahsan, Senate leader of the opposition, demanded that the government clarify its position.

"What does (Defense Minister) Khawaja Asif mean by the violation of sovereignty ofSaudi Arabiaand the strong response fromPakistan?" he asked. "If the government wants to send troops toYemenorSaudi Arabia, what will their exact mandate be?"

The debate could last days.

By Reuters
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