Any threat to Saudi Arabia will evoke reaction from Pakistan

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif asserted that any threat to Saudi Arabia's territorial integrity would evoke a strong response from Pakistan.

Sharif said this while chairing a high-level meeting at the prime ministers house to discuss recent developments in the Middle East and to examine Saudi Arabia's request to join the Gulf-led operation against Houthi rebels in Yemen, said a statement issued by prime minister's house on Thursday, Dawn online reported.

The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Advisor to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif and Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman.

Sharif said Pakistan enjoys close and brotherly relations with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and attaches great importance to their security.

The participants of the meeting decided that a high-level delegation would visit Saudi Arabia on Friday to assess the situation. Khawaja Asif, Sartaj Aziz along with senior representatives from the armed forces will be part of the delegation in this regard, the statement added.

Earlier, the Foreign Office said Pakistan was examining Saudi Arabia's request.
Sartaj Aziz confirmed that top Saudi officials had contacted the Pakistani leadership requesting it to join the Yemen operation. A decision has not yet been taken, Aziz said.