ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will send troops to Saudi Arabia to join the coalition against Yemeni Houthi rebels, a senior government official said on Monday.

"We have already pledged full support to Saudi Arabia in its operation against rebels and will join the coalition," the official said.

Pakistan is a regional ally of Saudi Arabia, the main Sunni Muslim power in the Gulf. A Saudi-led military coalition is conducting air strikes against Shi'ite Muslim Houthi forces in Yemen.

A Pakistani team, to be led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz, had been due to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Monday but delayed the trip at the request of the Saudis, the official told Reuters.

There are already around 750-800 Pakistani servicemen in Saudi Arabia but none are combat troops.

Reuters