Pakistan welcomes end of air campaign in Yemen

Pakistan on Wednesday welcomed an end to the airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched the operation " Decisive Storm" against the Houthi fighters after they dislodged Yemen's President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

"Pakistan welcomes the announcement by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the end of air campaign in Yemen. This will pave the way for political solution of the crisis in Yemen," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said.

"We share the desire of Saudi Arabia for peaceful settlement of the crisis," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is likely to visit Saudi Arabia on Thursday for talks on the Yemen conflict, local media has reported.

Saudi Arabia had sought Pakistani fighter aircraft, warships and ground troops in the war against the Houthi. The country's parliament this month unanimously urged the government to stay neutral in the Middle East conflict.

Brigadier-General Ahmed al-Asiri, the Saudi-led coalition's spokesperson, was quoted as saying on Tuesday that the coalition had achieved its military goals in Yemen and a new operation, called "Renewal of Hope", would aim to protect civilians and combat "terrorism."

Asiri hailed "Decisive Storm," a military campaign launched by Saudi Arabia and Arab allies on March 26, as a "success."

He also called the new operation a "combination of political, diplomatic and military action." Endi