Sharif to visit Muslim countries for Yemen resolve

ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is due to leave for Turkey on Friday to start his series of trips to Muslim countries to discuss the ongoing crisis in Yemen.

The premier is expected to request the countries to play their role in peaceful resolution of the crisis. "Sharif will also visit other Muslim countries after his visit to Turkey where he will brief Recep Tayyup at Pakistan's policy about the situation in Yemen and threats to Saudi Arabia", said sources.

Pakistani policy is inclined to Saudi Arabia's side but it does intend to offer a peaceful way out, reported several newspapers while quoting an unidentified official, Turkey is also backing the Saudi-led aerial strikes in Yemen which have seriously damaged the Houthi rebels.

A high level Pakistani delegation led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Special Advisor Sartaj Aziz also visited the kingdom after Sadi Arabia had officially requested the only Islamic atomic power to send in the troops to join fight.

Pakistan's foreign ministry has rejected all reports of sending troops and jets to join Saudi forces in Yemen. "Any threat to Saudi Arabia will responded effectively and all sources on board will utilised," the ministry maintained however.

Earlier, when the Saudi Arabia started aerial strikes in Yemen, 21 Arab League members unanimously announced their support to Saudi Arabia.

Yemeni Minister for Defence has also requested the Saudi-led coalition forces to send in ground troops as well to tackle the Houthi rebels.