Iran, Pakistan urge peaceful end to Yemen conflict

ISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif arrived on a two-day visit to Pakistan on Wednesday and held a meeting with the Prime Minister’s advisor on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz. He is expected to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Chief of Army Staff on Thursday.

According to the Foreign Office the prime minister’s advisor and the Iranian Foreign Minister discussed matters of mutual cooperation including the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline. Both leaders stressed that the situation in Yemen must come to an end.

The Iranian Foreign Minister expressed the challenges being faced by his country including terrorism. On the situation of Yemen the Iranian Foreign Minister stressed that a political situation is needed for the situation in Yemen.

"It´s up to Yemenis to decide how to do this, we can only facilitate as neighbours... as countries with some influence one way or another," he said.

Addressing a joint press conference, the Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said that discussions with Sartaz Aziz focused on bilateral relations and the regional situation. He added that Pakistan and Iran enjoy cordial relations and both countries need to work together to maintain peace in the region.

Aziz called for "a more comprehensive resolution on facilitating an intra-Yemeni dialogue to create the possibliity of some kind of negotiated solution".