Riyadh, April 1 (IANS) A Pakistani delegation led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif held talks with top Saudi officials in Riyadh over the ongoing crisis in Yemen.
The developing situation in the Middle East also came under discussion during the talks late on Tuesday with Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud and chiefs of army and air force, Geo news reported.
The Pakistani delegation was received by Prince Mohammad bin Salman upon its arrival in Riyadh.
The delegation includes advisor to prime minister on national security and foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz, chief of general staff Ashfaq Nadeem, deputy chief of naval operations Rear Admiral Kalim Shaukat, deputy chief of air staff operations Air Vice Marshall Mujahid Anwar, and director general of military operations Major General.
Prior to departure, Khawaja Asif said Pakistan would provide support to Saudi Arabia if the country’s security was threatened.
The minister emphasised that Pakistan supported a peaceful resolution and was seeking an end to the conflicts in the Muslim world.
On Monday, a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also concluded that Pakistan remains firmly committed to supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia “in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Pakistan”.
Pakistan will also call upon the UN, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the international community to play a constructive role in finding a political solution to the crisis.
However, the decision to send Pakistani troops to assist Saudi Arabia was not confirmed during the meeting.
–Indo-Asian News Service
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