Pakistan combat troops to join Saudi coalition

Pakistan will send troops to Saudi Arabia to give military support to a coalition of mainly Gulf states fighting Yemeni Houthi rebels, a senior government official said.
Pakistan would join a Saudi-led military coalition conducting airstrikes against Houthis, the official said.
The air strikes are targeting the rebels’ southward advance on the port city of Aden, the last bastion of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
“We have already pledged full support to Saudi Arabia in its operation against rebels and will join the coalition,” the Pakistani official said.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaj Asif said a delegation led by him and foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz, would go to Saudi Arabia and then decide.
The Pakistani delegation, led by Asif and Aziz, had been due to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Monday but delayed the trip at the request of the Kingdom, the official said.
On Monday night, Aziz and Asif met Pakistan’s military chiefs and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
“Pakistan remains firmly committed to supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Pakistan,” a statement from Sharif’s media office said.
“Pakistan stands committed to playing a meaningful role in arresting the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.”
There are already about 750-800 Pakistani servicemen in Saudi Arabia but none are combat troops.
On Monday, a Pakistani military spokesman said 292 Pakistani soldiers were meeting Saudi troops for annual, pre-scheduled military exercises.
Saudi officials said the Royal Saudi Land Forces and units of special forces of Pakistan Army launched a joint military exercise codenamed “Al-Samsam 5” in the Shamrakh field, north of Baha.
Brig. Shaeh bin Abdullah Al-Qarni said the exercise, which began on Sunday, is an extension of a series of joint exercises between the Saudi forces and forces from brotherly and friendly countries, including Pakistan.
“The exercise will focus on wars in difficult mountainous terrains and irregular operations,” he said.
The Royal Saudi Air Forces, Land Forces and Border Guard units are participating in the exercise, Brig. Al-Qami said.
Maj. Gen. Faris bin Abdullah Al-Omari, corps commander of Taif region, said in a statement to Saudi Press Agency that “Al-Samsam 5” was planned in advance for training and development of Saudi forces.
“The exercise has nothing to do with any current military operations. It is a complement to raise the level of performance and effectiveness of the military forces,” he said.
Brig. Jaweed Iqbal, a very senior Pakistani officer, said the exercise aims to exchange experiences and raise the level of efficiency and performance in the military forces of both the countries.
He said Pakistan maintains close military ties with the Saudi Arabia and “Al-Samsam” exercise has been going on for over a decade.