Iranian foreign minister in Islamabad to discuss Yemen crisis

ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – Iranian Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif on Wednesday arrived in Islamabad on a two-day official tour to discuss the crisis in Yemen with Pakistani authorities.

He was welcomed by top officials of Pakistani foreign office at the airport.

The foreign minister is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry and other high level officials.

Zarif will formally take up the issue of Saudi-led aerial strikes in Yemen and Iran’s stance over the matter with Pakistani authorities.

Earlier Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had called  for Iran to get involved in a debate on security in Yemen.

A joint session of Parliament is also discussing the situation of Yemen and is expected to conclude with a decision whether Pakistan should join a Saudi-led campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Turkey and Iran country heads also called for an end to the bloodshed in Yemen while addressing a joint news conference in Tehran.