ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Minsiter for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif told the National Assembly on Friday that the government has not yet decided for sending troops to Yemen where Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies are carrying airstrikes on Houthi fighters’ strongholds.
“The decision to fight the rebels in Saudi Arabia-led offensive is yet to be made,” the minister expressed these views while addressing an NA session in Islamabad.
He said that Pakistan would fully support Saudi Arabia to protect her territorial integrity. If troops were to be sent the government would first take the parliament members in confidence, he assured.
The minister said that the government was carefully monitoring the ongoing crisis in the country and brotherly relations with Saudi Arabia simultaneously.
Asif said the fears of the Leader of the Opposition about Pakistan taking side in the war in Middle East are baseless. He said if any decision required to be made in this regard the Parliament will be taken into confidence.
Earlier, the Leader of the Opposition Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah had said that Pakistan should play its role for peace particularly in the Islamic world and should not take any sides in the war in the Middle East.
He suggested that a Joint Session of the Parliament or an All Parties Conference should be convened to take any decision on the issue. He said foreign policy should also be reviewed to meet the present day challenges.
