Yemen crisis: PM to visit Turkey tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Committee on National Security (CCNS) will take the final decision on the modalities of providing assistance to Saudi Arabia in the ongoing operation “Decisive Storm”, including dispatching troops for preserving and protecting the sovereignty of the brotherly country.
The broad understanding was reached here in a high-echelon meeting of senior officials of the government in this regard. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The nine-member high-powered delegation of civil and military leaders has returned to Islamabad from Saudi Arabia after having extensive discussions with the Saudi authorities for the role of Pakistan in the operation with regard to Yemen initiated by Saudi Arabia.
Well-placed sources told The News that Prime Minister Nawaz will chair yet another high-level meeting here today (Thursday) for deliberations on the report to be submitted by the delegation. It is likely that the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif and other senior officials will also attend it.
Sources have revealed that the two sides are in agreement that no Pakistani boots will be put on the Yemen soil during the operation while Pakistan will defend every inch of Saudi Arabia that houses Harmain-e-Sharifain.
The Saudi leadership has greatly appreciated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s position and statements made by Pakistan eversince the operation began. In the meanwhile, sources said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has initiated consulting the brotherly countries about the Middle East situation. He will be proceeding to Turkey in the first phase and it is likely that he will undertake a whirlwind visit of that brotherly country either tomorrow (Friday) or a day later. He will have detailed discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and in the same trip he could also touch the capital of a Middle Eastern state.
Another proposal is also being mulled that a mini conference of about five countries should be held during the visit of the prime minister to Turkey for a brainstorming session of the leaders of the region to evolve a strategy for peaceful and negotiated settlement of the dispute. They may also ask Iran to stop providing assistance to the Yemeni rebels and dispel the grievances of the Saudi administration.
The sources said that besides sending a high-level delegation to Saudi Arabia for talks on the issue, the prime minister is likely to visit the Islamic countries to evolve a consensus. The ultimate decision will be taken today. The possibility of consigning emissaries to certain capitals is also being examined, the sources said.