Pakistan claims that it will consider deploying limited number of its troops inside Saudi Arabia if its territorial integrity comes under threat in the wake of any backlash against its intervention in Yemen.
The offer was made by a high-powered Pakistani delegation during its talks in Riyadh, informed an official to Arab news on Wednesday.
The delegation, headed by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, returned back from Saudi capital where it assess the current situation in Yemen and discuss the assistance that Pakistan could possibly extend.
Other members of the delegation were included Prime Ministers Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Ashfaq Nadeem, Director General Military Operations Maj Gen Amir Riaz and senior officials from Pakistans air force and navy.
The composition of the delegation suggests that Pakistan is ready to meet the defence requirements of Saudi Arabia in the current situation. The delegation was received by Saudi Defence Minister Mohammad Salman, who later held talks with Pakistani officials.
The delegation is expected to meet Saudi Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, as well as representatives of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), on the Yemeni crisis.
Pakistan is reluctant to commit troops for the Saudi-led military coalition against Houthi rebels as it fears the move would complicate its relationship with neighbouring Iran. Tehran is believed to have already voiced its concerns and urged Islamabad to stay away from the Middle East crisis. On Monday, Prime Ministers Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi told a private news channel that Islamabad would not become part of any proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, the civil and military leadership decided not to join the military coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen for the time being and instead launch a diplomatic offensive to facilitate a political solution to the crises.At the same time, they agreed that if the territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia comes under threat, then Pakistan will extend all possible help including deployment of troops.
