Saudi-Pak ties take a hit over Yemen response, coalition

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s spat with the United Arab Emirates took a new turn Sunday with interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan taking strong exception to remarks made a day earlier by a UAE minister.

The UAE had slammed Pakistan’s decision to not join the Saudi-led coalition as ‘dangerous and unexpected’. The UAE said Islamabad was favouring Iran over the Gulf nations.

“The Pakistani parliament’s resolution, which promoted neutrality on the Yemeni conflict, and voiced support for Saudi Arabia is contradictory and dangerous and unexpected from Islamabad,” UAE’s minister of state for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash had said on Twitter. His remarks were widely quoted in the Pakistani media.

On Sunday, Khan termed the remarks as worrisome and derogatory, “The remarks have come at a time when we are considering our options. But such comments are uncalled for and not welcome.”

The Pakistani parliament recently urged the government to stay out Yemen. A unanimous resolution backed the government’s commitment to protect Saudi Arabia’s territory, which has so far not been threatened by the conflict. But it said Pakistan should play a mediating role.

Pakistan has pushed diplomatic efforts in the past week, holding talks with Turkish and Iranian officials to try to forge a way ahead.