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Pakistan backs military action in Yemen as PM wraps up Saudi visit

Xinhua, April 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has backed the Saudi-led military action against the Houthi rebels in Yemen and called for the restoration of Yemeni President Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

Prime Minister Sharif wrapped up his day-long visit to Saudi Arabia late Thursday where he discussed the conflict in Yemen with Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, other senior leaders and President Hadi, the ministry said.

Saudi Arabia had sought fighter aircraft, warships and ground troops from Pakistan in its fight against the Houthis; however, the country's parliament this month urged the gov't to stay neutral.

"Pakistan extended its support to the political objectives of the Coalition led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to restore unconditionally the legitimate Government in Yemen and withdrawal of Houthis from the territories seized by them including the capital Sanaa," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

Prime Minister Sharif was accompanied by the army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif, Defense Minister Khwaja Asif and senior officials in talks with Saudi leaders. UAE, a close ally of Saudi Arabia in the coalition, had condemned what it called a "vague" policy of Pakistan and warned Islamabad will have to "pay a high price."

Pakistan Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan had rejected the UAE accusation as an "insult" to his country.

It was Pakistan's third top-level delegations to visit Saudi Arabia since the coalition started military airstrikes in Yemen a month ago. Endi