A statement from the office of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s office insists that any threat to Saudi Arabia’s security “would prompt a strong response” from Islamabad.
The statement was issued after Sharif chaired “a high-level meeting” in which he said that Pakistan enjoys close and brotherly relations with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries. “The meeting concluded that any threat to Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity would evoke a strong response from Pakistan,” said Sharif’s office. A Pakistani delegation, including military officials, will proceed to Saudi Arabia today (Friday) as it considers a Saudi request to send troops to Yemen.
Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies launched military operations including air strikes in Yemen on Thursday. According to Saudi officials they were to counter Iranian-backed Shia Houthi rebels besieging the southern city of Aden, where Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi is based.