Pakistan votes to stay neutral in Yemen conflict

ISLAMABAD, April 10 (UPI) -- Pakistan's legislature voted Friday to remain neutral, and decided against direct military involvement, in the Yemen conflict.

Saudi Arabia, leader of a 10-nation coalition of Arab countries in the Middle East, requested Pakistani aid, in the form of ships, aircraft and troops, to help fight Houthi rebels who have overtaken the Yemeni government.

Lawmakers, debating the issue for the past five days, overwhelmingly approved a draft resolution stating that Pakistan "should maintain neutrality in the conflict so as to be able to play a proactive diplomatic role to end the crisis," although it also called for "unequivocal support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," adding that, if Saudi Arabia's territorial integrity was breached, "Pakistan will stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia and its people."

Pakistan, which has relied heavily on Saudi financial help in its history, seeks to keep from being caught up in the sectarian element of the Yemeni war. Saudi Arabia, a Sunni Muslim-majority country, is attempting to install a government in Yemen overthrown by Shia Houthi rebels supported by Iran, another Shia Muslim country. Pakistan has a Sunni majority but a large Sunni minority population.

While the decision to remain neutral will likely bring resentment from some Saudi leaders, the resolution still leaves room for a Pakistani troop deployment in the future. During the 1991 Gulf War, Pakistan sent two brigades of soldiers to Saudi Arabia to "defend holy sites."