Abdullah opposes decision to back Saudi Arabia

KABUL’s support for Saudi Arabia in the kingdom-led coalition campaign in Yemen.

Yemen has descended further into chaos since a Saudi-led coalition launched air strikes a week ago against positions held by Shia rebels and their allies across the deeply tribal country.

The kingdom has launched efforts to muster support from Islamic countries in its campaign to subdue the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

The Presidential Palace in Kabul late on Wednesday issued a statement saying the government of Afghanistan had announced its backing to Saudi Arabia on the Yemen crisis.

It said the consensus decision to support Saudi Arabia had been taken after detailed consultations with the country’s ulema figures.

But a source close to the unity government told Pajhwok Afghan News CEO Abdullah had opposed the decision.

He said Abdullah walked out of the gathering held on the Yemen crisis in protest over the decision to back Saudi Arabia.

The source said the CEO believed the decision had been based on President Ghani’s personal affiliations with Saudi Arabia.

“Abdullah says currently Saudi Arabia is not under threat nor any attack has been carried out on the holiest places. The fact is that Saudi has attacked Yemen. So there is no need to support the kingdom.”

Meanwhile, a BBC Farsi television reporter on his Facebook wall quoted Abdullah as saying that Afghanistan would support Saudi Arabia only for the protection of the holiest places.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Noorul Haq Ulumi told repoters in Kabul that the ministry would follow instructions from the country’s leadership on the situation in the Middle East.

“Afghanistan has announced its solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support to the Al-Haramain Al-Sharifain. All Muslim countries should support Afghanistan’s stance,” said Ulumi, who belongs to Abdullah’s camp.

Some political observers have criticised the government’s decision to support Saudi Arabia and urged the government to stay neutral in the Yemen conflict.

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