ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: As a part of efforts to reassure the Saudis of Pakistan’s unflinching support and discuss latest situation in Yemen, a high level delegation led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left for Saudi Arabia on Thursday for a day-long visit.
The prime minister was accompanied by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry.
During the visit, the prime minister along with his delegation members will hold meetings with the Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz over prevailing Yemeni crisis.
The delegation will also express solidarity and support to Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Pakistani nation.
The purpose of the visit by the Pakistani delegation is to reassure Riyadh that Islamabad remained fully committed to Saudi Arabian security, according to a source privy to preparations for the visit.
In addition, the delegation will put another effort to pacify the royal Saudi family who are annoyed over Pakistan’s reluctance to be effusively involved in Saudi-led operation against Yemeni Houthi rebels.
The visit came a day after a month-long military campaign by the Saudi Arabia-led regional coalition against Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen came to an end, with the launch of a new operation – the ‘Operation Restore Hope’ – to focus on a political solution in Yemen.
