ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday called upon all Muslim countries to use their influence to counsel restraint and promote a spirit of mutual accommodation on Yemen’s issue.
Talking to Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif here, the prime minister stressed the need to ponder the ways and means to bring an end to the conflict at the earliest by peaceful means. He expressed serious concern over the deteriorating situation in Yemen, which he said was so grave that it could endanger fellow Muslim countries.
Various options for resolution of the Yemen conflict came under discussion during the meeting with Iranian FM.
The prime minister stated that Iran was a brotherly nation and an important neighbour with which the government and people of Pakistan desired friendly and cooperative ties.
The prime minister expressed his serious concern at the deteriorating situation in Yemen which, he said, was so grave that it might endanger fellow Muslim countries.
“Besides loss of innocent lives, the crisis can undermine the unity of Muslim world,” he said.
The prime minister stressed the need to ponder over the ways and means to end the crisis at earliest by peaceful means.
He said it was a collective responsibility of all Muslim countries to use their influence for promoting restraint and a spirit of mutual accommodation.
Referring to the debate in the joint session of the Parliament, the prime minister stated that the people of Pakistan held the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in high esteem and would stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of the Kingdom if its territorial integrity was violated.
The prime minister expressed grave concern of the government of Pakistan over toppling of Yemen’s legitimate government by non-state actors through use of force. Premier Sharif stated that it was the shared responsibility of all states to refrain from actions that could disturb peace and stability in any country.
The prime minister informed the foreign minister of his efforts to establish peace in Yemen in collaboration with other Muslim countries. He expressed the hope that the leadership of the Muslim countries would recognise that the continuing conflict in Yemen could prove detrimental to the Muslim Ummah and, therefore, they must work together to find a negotiated settlement of this issue.
The foreign minister of Iran agreed on the need to work towards an early settlement of the conflict and presented his government’s perspective on exploring different options for resolving the crisis in Yemen.
Foreign Minister Zarif briefed the prime minister on the understanding his country had reached with the P5 +1 on the nuclear issue.
The prime minister expressed his satisfaction on the peaceful resolution of the issue and wished further success in conclusion of a comprehensive agreement by June 2015.
Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Alireza Haghighian, Governor General Sistan-Baluchistan Ali Osat Iashemil and Advisor of the Minister and Deputy of Media Diplomacy Sayyed Mohammad Ali Hosseni accompanied the minister.
Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, Secretary to Prime Minister Javed Aslam and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry also attended the meeting.
The Iranian foreign minister also visited General Headquarters and called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest.
According to an ISPR statement, focus of the discussion remained on regional security including evolving situation in the Middle East, Pak-Iran border management and defence and security cooperation between both the countries.
During the meeting, the unity and integrity of Muslim Ummah and greater harmony amongst the Muslims were emphasised.
Iranian Foreign Minister appreciated achievements made in Operation Zarb-e-Azb. He paid rich tributes to sacrifices rendered by Pakistan for bringing peace and stability in the region.
Earlier, on his arrival at GHQ, the foreign minister of Iran was presented guard of honour. He laid floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada and offered Fateha for martyrs of Pakistan.