Pakistan Parliament Votes for Neutrality in Yemen

As conflict in Yemen continues, Pakistan was asked by the Saudi Arabia led coalition for support. Last month the coalition sought military aid and supplies from Pakistan, and Pakistan's parliament began discussing Pakistan's role in Yemen this past Monday. The coalition is aiming to restore President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and to defeat the Houthi rebels. However, Pakistan's parliament has voted unanimously to remain neutral in Yemen and to not provide support to the Saudi Arabia led coalition. Although Saudi Arabia is an ally of Pakistan, the parliament is against sending troops to Yemen at this point in time. Instead Pakistan's government and parliament has expressed a desire to protect Saudi Arabia's territorial interests and holy sites. Ultimately Pakistan wishes to remain neutral in the Yemen conflict in order to play an active diplomatic role in ending the conflict. Rather than siding with the Saudi Arabia led coalition or the Houthi rebels, Pakistan has resolved to use diplomacy to end the conflict between the two sides.

Yemen conflict: Pakistan rebuffs Saudi coalition call

- Jenn Hoffman