Turkey, Pakistan to ‘accelerate’ Yemen efforts

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan agreed to accelerate efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the Yemen crisis in a call with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday, the Pakistani embassy in Ankara said.

Pakistan voted on Friday not to join a campaign led by Saudi Arabia Gulf allies against the Iran-allied Houthi militias in Yemen.

Turkey has publicly supported the Saudi-led operation. The call came a day after Erdogan held similar talks with the Saudi king and the emir of Qatar.

During the 45 minute conversation, Erdogan and Sharif “stressed that the Houthis didn't have any right to overthrow a legitimate government in Yemen and affirmed that any violation of the territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia would evoke a strong reaction from both countries."

On Friday evening Erdogan discussed "regional issues" with King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Qatar's Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, presidential sources said, without specifically naming Yemen.

Turkey, which has the second-largest army in the NATO military alliance, has not taken an active role in the operations in Yemen so far, although it has said it is able to offer logistic and intelligence support.

(With Reuters)