Pakistan Weighs Joining Saudi Coalition in Yemen

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammas Asif said Monday that Saudi Arabia has asked that his military provide ground troops, planes and warships to help a coalition battling rebels in Yemen.

He spoke at the start of a parliamentary debate on whether to join the Saudi-led effort against the Houthis that began nearly two weeks ago with airstrikes in support of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.  The president fled the country last month and went to Riyadh.

Pakistan has pledged to support the overall effort, but has not committed itself to any specific action or contribution.  Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said he would defend Saudi Arabia from outside attacks.  The fight against the Houthis, who seized Yemen’s capital last September before marching on the southern city of Aden last month, has included rebel attacks on Saudi border crossings.

As the fighting between the Houthis and pro-government forces continued, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Monday it has not been able to deliver some 48 tons of medical supplies it has ready to send into Yemen.  The organization said it has approval, but that logistical concerns about flying into the war-torn country are holding up the process.

Senior Houthi leader Saleh al-Sammad said Sunday that the rebels are willing to hold peace talks if the Saudi-led coalition halts it campaign of airstrikes.

“We have no conditions except a halt to the aggression… and any international or regional parties that have no aggressive positions toward the Yemeni people can oversee the dialogue,” Sammad told Reuters.

The United Nations has led efforts to mediate the crisis in Yemen, but talks have failed to resolve the situation.