Islamabad close to decision on Yemen military deployment - FT.com
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Khawaja Mohammad Asif, defence minister, had earlier told parliament: “Saudi Arabia has asked for combat planes, warships and soldiers.” He did not say if Pakistan would agree or what the extent of any deployments might be.
In recent days, Pakistani leaders have said repeatedly they are determined to defend Saudi’s “territorial integrity”. Officials have also spoken of protecting the sanctity of Islam — Saudi being the birthplace of the religion practised by more than 95 per cent of Pakistanis.
However, any troop deployment risks further sharpening the divisions between Pakistan’s Sunni Muslims, including many who are sympathetic to Saudi, and the minority Shia, who tend to look to predominantly Shia Iran for spiritual guidance and are sympathetic to the Houthi rebels.
