Pakistan, Islamabad: Pakistan has to decide about Saudi help within a week.

Pakistan is set to fulfill the Saudi government’s request for military assistance against the Houthi rebels in Yemen within the next week, reports in the local media said on Tuesday.

According to the media reports, the decision was taken in a high-level meeting of civil and military leaders chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during the adjournment period of the joint session on Monday. Army chief General Raheel Sharif was also present in the meeting.

According to the report, the government will fulfill all requirements of Saudi Arabia in letter and spirit within a week. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had told the House on Monday that Saudi Arabia has asked Pakistan for military aircraft, warships and soldiers.

“Saudi Arabia has asked for combat planes, warships and soldiers,” Asif said, without specifying where the Saudi government wanted them deployed.

Media reports said that the government’s statement in the joint session of parliament held to discuss the Yemen conflict were drafted after consensus and with support from the General Headquarters (GHQ).

Prime Minister visits Turkey today

Pakistan, Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit Turkey on Friday for consultations with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the situation in Yemen.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be visiting the Republic of Turkey on Friday,” the Foreign Office said on Thursday.

The government had earlier this week decided to reach out to “leadership of brotherly Muslim countries” for what it said “facilitating early resolution of the crisis and promoting peace and unity of the Muslim Ummah”.

The visit was finalised during Mr Sharif’s telephonic conversation with the Turkish president.

“The prime minister and the president of Turkey will exchange views on the situation relating to Yemen. They will also discuss how the two countries can be helpful in addressing the issue,” the Foreign Office said. Meanwhile, President Mamnoon Hussain will leave for Istanbul on a three-day visit on April 21. This will be his third visit to Turkey since he assumed charge of his office in July 2013.

“The president will visit Turkey on an invitation by his Turkish counterpart to attend Turkish national ceremonies,” the president’s spokesman said. President Mamnoon first visited Turkey in July last year on his way home from a trip to Indonesia. Only a month later he again visited Turkey.

A number of memoranda of understanding are likely to be signed between Pakistan and Turkey during President Mamnoon’s visit.