Pakistan has expressed its full support for the diplomatic efforts being undertaken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for ensuring peace and stability in the Republic of Yemen. “We also commend the efforts of the UAE in this regard. Pakistan is closely following the recent developments in Yemen,” the Foreign Office, said in a press statement on Saturday. Pakistan underscored the need for upholding the unity and territorial integrity of Yemen, and expressed the hope that the Yemeni stakeholders would avoid any unilateral steps that might result in further escalation of the situation. “We also call on all Yemeni parties to engage constructively and in good faith towards an inclusive, negotiated political solution based on the agreed parameters. Pakistan expresses its hope that the ongoing diplomatic efforts will result in concrete steps towards achieving lasting peace in the country, and in bringing an end to the suffering of the Yemeni people,” it was further added. UAE welcomes Saudi efforts to support security in Yemen, foreign ministry says A day ago, the UAE also welcomed Saudi Arabian efforts to support security and stability in Yemen and remained committed to backing stability in the country, the UAE’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday. Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it remains hopeful that Yemen’s main southern separatist group will end an escalation that has given it broad control across the south, deepening uncertainties in a country already divided between two administrations since civil war erupted over a decade ago. In a foreign ministry statement, the kingdom had described the military operations by Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC) - through which the group seized the eastern provinces of Hadramout and Mahra earlier this month - as an “unjustified escalation.” “The kingdom remains hopeful that the public interest will prevail through ending the escalation by the Southern Transitional Council and the withdrawal of its forces from the two governorates in an urgent and orderly manner,” the statement had said. Saudi Arabia says Yemen group should withdraw its forces from seized provinces A joint Saudi-Emirati military delegation arrived in Aden on December 12 to discuss measures aimed at defusing tensions. Saudi Arabia had said the teams were sent to put “the necessary arrangements” to ensure the return of STC forces to their previous positions outside the two provinces.