Pakistani MP urges to convince Riyadh to support Russia’s draft resolution on Yemen in UN

ISLAMABAD, April 8. /TASS/. Pakistani MP from Tehreek-e-Insaf party Shireen Mazari has called Wednesday on the country’s authorities to convince Saudi Arabia to support Russia’s initiative on Yemen in the UN Security Council. Mazari warned the Pakistani parliament against joining the Saudi-led coalition. The MP said she considers appropriate Russia’s draft resolution that envisages a humanitarian pause in Yemen . "Our servicemen should not be sent anywhere to participate in military actions in the interests of other countries," Mazari told a parliament session. "We were used in the US’ war against the Soviet Union [in Afghanistan]. We still cannot get over the consequences of that war," she noted. Pakistan should "by no means support the coalition, but instead should try to convince Riyadh to support Russia’s draft resolution in the UN Security Council on a humanitarian pause in Yemen," she said. On Monday, Saudi Arabia asked Pakistan to supply military planes, ships and national army units for fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said. "Saudi Arabia asked Pakistan to render assistance to the coalition it [Saudi Arabia] heads in the form of sending fighter jets, ships and military units to the region," Asif said. The defense minister did not say where the Pakistani contingent was planned to be deployed. Since August 2014, Yemen has been hit by a severe political and security crisis. In late January, the armed groups of Ansar Allah (Houthi rebels) forced the president and the government to announce resignation. The rebels later took control of the country’s capital and several northern provinces. They also announced the adoption of the so-called constitutional declaration. Overnight to March 26, Saudi Arabia launched a military operation in the neighboring country and delivered air strikes at several Houthi positions. Yemeni President Abd Rabbah Mansur Hadi fled the country to Saudi Arabia. Houthi rebels are currently fighting pro-government forces over control of Yemen’s second-largest city of Aden. The coalition is currently considering launching a ground operation in Yemen to oust Houthis. On Sunday, the UN reported that 549 have been killed in Yemen since March 19, including 217 civilians. Read more