Egypt’s defence minister Sedki Sobhi on Monday headed to Pakistan for talks on military cooperation between the two countries, according to a statement from Egyptian armed forces.

Sobhi is scheduled to stay in the Pakistani capital Islamabad for several days to meet with officials from the Pakistani defence ministry, according to the statement.

The Pakistani parliament is currently debating whether or not to provide military support to the Saudi-led campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen, after a request for such help from Saudi Arabia.

Houthi fighters have taken over several cities in Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. At the end of March, their advance on the southern port city of Aden prompted Saudi Arabia and regional allies including Egypt to launch airstrikes against them.

Egypt, who is participating in the operation with its navy and air force, has not ruled out the possibility of deploying ground forces in Yemen if needed.

Pakistan played host to Egyptian warships during the 1973 Egyptian-Israeli war, and both countries have since maintained strong ties.

Since 2007, both countries have cooperated on economic and investment projects, according to the Egyptian foreign ministry's website.