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Pakistan Lawmakers Pass Resolution Urging Neutrality in Yemen Conflict Pakistan Lawmakers Pass Resolution Urging Neutrality in Yemen Conflict
(35 minutes later)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Pakistani Parliament on Friday urged the government to avoid taking sides militarily in the Yemen conflict, calling for the country to take a more active diplomatic role in defusing the crisis. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Pakistani Parliament voted on Friday to stay out of the conflict in Yemen, but urged the government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to play a diplomatic role in defusing the crisis.
Analysts in the Arab world saw the decision as a significant setback for Saudi Arabia, which is leading a campaign of airstrikes against the Iranian-backed Houthi movement in Yemen. Saudi Arabia, a major donor to Pakistan, had incorrectly advertised Pakistani participation in the campaign from the night it began more than two weeks ago.Analysts in the Arab world saw the decision as a significant setback for Saudi Arabia, which is leading a campaign of airstrikes against the Iranian-backed Houthi movement in Yemen. Saudi Arabia, a major donor to Pakistan, had incorrectly advertised Pakistani participation in the campaign from the night it began more than two weeks ago.
While declining a military role, the lawmakers vowed to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Saudi Arabia, a long-term Sunni ally that had requested aircraft, warships and troops. The lawmakers also pledged to defend Saudi Arabia if its “territorial sovereignty and integrity” is violated.While declining a military role, the lawmakers vowed to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Saudi Arabia, a long-term Sunni ally that had requested aircraft, warships and troops. The lawmakers also pledged to defend Saudi Arabia if its “territorial sovereignty and integrity” is violated.
Saudi Arabia has accused Iran, the region’s most influential Shiite country, of providing military aid to the Houthi movement, whose leaders follow a variant of Shiite Islam, and leaders in Tehran condemned the Saudi air campaign on Thursday. Most experts say Iran supports the Houthis but that it does not control them.Saudi Arabia has accused Iran, the region’s most influential Shiite country, of providing military aid to the Houthi movement, whose leaders follow a variant of Shiite Islam, and leaders in Tehran condemned the Saudi air campaign on Thursday. Most experts say Iran supports the Houthis but that it does not control them.
The Pakistani Parliament’s resolution on the Yemen crisis, which passed unanimously, came on the fifth day of debate of a joint meeting of the country’s Senate and National Assembly. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had called the meeting in an effort to find consensus despite a polarizing debate about whether Pakistan should become part of the Saudi-led offensive. The parliamentary measure, which was passed with unanimous support, followed four days of lively debate in a joint sitting of Pakistan’s Senate and National Assembly.
Several high-level politicians and members of the opposition had warned against becoming involved in the conflict, a development that could widen sectarian fissures in the country. Pakistan is a predominantly Sunni country, but it has an influential Shiite population that is estimated at about 20 percent of the population. Critics of military action warned that Pakistan risked getting sucked into a broader sectarian conflict in the region, particularly at a time of growing violence against Shiites at home.
The Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, was in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, for a two-day visit this week, during which he urged the Pakistani civilian and military leadership to back a cease-fire in Yemen. Pakistan is a predominantly Sunni country, but it has an influential Shiite population that is estimated at about 20 percent of the population.
The Parliament resolution expressed “deep concern at the increasing threats posed by several terrorist groups and nonstate actors to the security and stability of the region.” It advised the Pakistani government “to enhance its friendship and cooperation with the Saudi-dominated council of Persian Gulf monarchies and all other regional countries in combating extremism and terrorism.” The Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, visited Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, this week and urged Pakistan to press for a cease-fire in Yemen.
The resolution also stated that the lawmakers supported “regional and international efforts for restoration of peace and stability in the region.” It called on the Pakistani government to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Mr. Sharif’s government has close ties to Saudi Arabia, which gave Pakistan $1.5 billion in aid last year. Mr. Sharif also lived in the Saudi city of Jidda in the early 2000s, when he went into exile to escape the military rule of Pervez Musharraf.
The parliamentary resolution on Friday appeared to largely align with the Iranian wishes. “Pakistan should maintain neutrality in the Yemen conflict so as to be able to play a proactive diplomatic role to end the crisis,” read the resolution, which had been presented by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.
Lawmakers said they supported “regional and international efforts for restoration of peace and stability in the region.”
Still, the pledge to stand with Saudi Arabia and to defend its sovereignty was seen as leaving open a door to possible military action if the situation in Yemen were to worsen.
Citing sources close to Mr. Sharif, some Pakistani news outlets reported on Friday that the Pakistani prime minister had privately warned Mr. Zarif, his Iranian counterpart, against supporting the Houthis.
In a statement on Thursday, Mr. Sharif said he had used the meeting to express concern about the Yemeni government being overthrown by “nonstate actors.”
“Beside the loss of innocent lives, the crisis can undermine the unity of Muslim world,” Mr. Sharif said in the statement.
Separately, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations Children’s Fund said that a first airlift of medical supplies arrived on Friday at the international airport in Sana, the capital of Yemen, and that the supplies would be distributed to hospitals across the country. The Red Cross said the shipment included 16 tons of medicine, bandages, intravenous fluids and surgical equipment.Separately, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations Children’s Fund said that a first airlift of medical supplies arrived on Friday at the international airport in Sana, the capital of Yemen, and that the supplies would be distributed to hospitals across the country. The Red Cross said the shipment included 16 tons of medicine, bandages, intravenous fluids and surgical equipment.