IRAN’S ZARIF SEEKS PAKISTAN’S HELP IN YEMEN CRISIS

Javad Zarif. (Photo: Press TV)" width="367" height="207" /> Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that Pakistan and Iran should cooperate to solve the crisis in Yemen. (Photo: Press TV)

Islamabad, 20 Jumadil Akhir 1436/9 April 2015 (MINA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that Pakistan and Iran should cooperate to solve the crisis in Yemen.

“We need to work together to find a political solution,” Zarif said as he arrived for a two-day visit to Islamabad, in which he was expected to urge Pakistan to reject a Saudi request to join a military operation against Houthi forces in Yemen.

“The people of Yemen should not have to face aerial bombardment,” he said, referring to air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition that started last month, Al Jazeera quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Zarif said he favoured a four-part plan to impose a ceasefire in Yemen, deliver humanitarian assistance and then establish a broad-based dialogue and finally a broad-based government.

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He recommended this to Pakistani, Turkish and Omani leaders, he said.

Pakistani members of parliament on Wednesday spent a third day debating the Saudi request, with all speakers so far arguing against militarily involvement in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia has accused the Houthis, a Shia rebel group of having links to Iran.

On Tuesday, Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistani prime minister, called on Iran to get involved in talks on security in the Arabian Peninsula.

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Al Jazeera’s Asad Hashim, reporting from Lahore, said the talks in Islamabad come against a backdrop of Pakistan trying to position itself as a peace broker in Yemen.

“Pakistan, of course, is treading a fine line on Yemen, between its longstanding alliance with Saudi Arabia and its relatively close relations with neighbouring Iran,” he said. (T/P001/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)

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