ISLAMABAD // Iran and Pakistan on Wednesday pledged to work to find a negotiated solution to the conflict in Yemen, as the Saudi-led air campaign against rebels nears its third week.
“We need to work together to find a political solution,” Mohammad Javad Zarif said after arriving for a two-day visit to Islamabad.
Mr Zarif laid out a four-stage plan for talks: an immediate ceasefire followed by humanitarian assistance, dialogue among Yemenis and the formation of an “all-inclusive government”.
“It’s up to Yemenis to decide how to do this, we can only facilitate as neighbours ... as countries with some influence one way or another,” he said at a joint press conference after talks with his Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz.
A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia has been bombarding Houthi rebels in Yemen in a bid to restore the government of President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi.
Riyadh accuses Iran of backing the Houthis.
Mr Zarif said a “consensus” was emerging around the Iranian four-point plan, following talks with Oman, Turkey and Pakistan.
But Mr Aziz appeared cool on Iran’s idea of an immediate ceasefire, saying it “would consolidate the existing ground position”, which currently has Houthis in control of large parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa.
Instead the Pakistani foreign minister called for “a more comprehensive resolution on facilitating an intra-Yemeni dialogue to create the possibility of some kind of negotiated solution”.
Saudi Arabia has pressed Pakistan, a close and longstanding ally, to join its coalition against the rebels, but Islamabad has so far resisted
Islamabad finds itself in an awkward position on Yemen, reluctant to offend Saudi Arabia, with which it has long enjoyed close military and economic ties, but also not wanting to get involved in a war that could fan sectarian tensions at home.
Pakistan’s parliament is weighing up the Saudi request to send ground troops, aircraft and naval vessels to join the coalition.
Mr Aziz said that after three days of discussions there was a “broad consensus” among lawmakers that Pakistani involvement in the war in Yemen “would not be advisable”.
Pakistan’s prime minister Nawaz Sharif has said he will defend Saudi Arabia’s “territorial integrity” but not spelt out what, if any, commitments he has made.
On Tuesday, Mr Sharif told legislators that Iran should be part of the debate and urged parliament to take its time in coming to a decision.
* Agence France-Presse with additional reporting from Reuters
