Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and King Salman in Riyadh on Thursday.
AFP/Riyadh
Pakistan’s prime minister arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for talks after his parliament refused to send forces to help a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
Nawaz Sharif is travelling with a powerful delegation including army chief General Raheel Sharif, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and other senior officials.
A statement from his office said the one-day trip was aimed at discussing the war in Yemen.
The official Saudi Press Agency said the Pakistani delegation met King Salman and other top officials including Crown Prince Muqren bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Crown Prince and Interior Minister Mohammed bin Nayef, Defence Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal.
SPA gave no details of their discussions.
A Saudi-led coalition conducted a 27-day campaign of air strikes in Yemen aimed at halting the advance of Iran-backed Shia Houthi rebels and their allies.
On Tuesday night the coalition said it was starting a new phase aiming to resume Yemen's political process, deliver aid and fight "terrorism," as air strikes continued.
Pakistan has remained ostensibly neutral in the war.
The Houthis, allied with army units loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, are fighting forces on the side of coalition-backed President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, whose government has sought refuge in Riyadh.
Pakistan's parliament earlier this month unanimously voted against complying with Saudi Arabia's request for troops, warplanes and ships.
Parliament said Pakistan should instead play a mediating role.
The country has deep military ties with Saudi Arabia and has long benefited from the kingdom's largesse.
But it has been reluctant to become ensnared in a conflict with sectarian overtones while violence against minority Shias rises at home.
