A new role for Pakistan

In the Yemen crisis

The defence minister has informed the joint sitting of the tall Saudi order requiring deployment of units of Pakistan army, navy and air force in the Saudi-led offensive in Yemen. During the parliamentary debate no speaker has supported the idea of joining the Saudi-led attack. There was a unanimity that instead of becoming a party in the conflict, Pakistan should play a conciliatory role. Besides other opposition speakers a prominent PML-F Senator also reiterated the views.

There is support among other Muslim countries also for bringing the warring sides in the conflict to the negotiating table. Despite earlier differences over Yemen, Turkish President Erdogan and Iranian President Rouhani agreed on Tuesday on the need for mediation to stop bloodshed on the basis of sectarian differences. The Iranian Foreign Minister is scheduled to reach Islamabad today for talks. It is not enough to tell Iran to change its policy in Yemen. The same message should also go to Saudi Arabia. Unless this is done, a humanitarian crisis in the form of food and water shortage is going to envelop Yemen leading to mass migration to neighbouring countries.

The COAS has said the Parliament is to decide Pakistan’s role in the Yemen conflict. Nawaz Sharif has promised to carry out the decision taken in Parliament. Realising the importance of the talks with Turkey and Iran, Opposition Leader Khurshid Shah has suggested to delay the next sitting of the joint session by a few days. Nawaz Sharif needs to prepare himself now to play the role of a firefighter. While assuring the Saudi government of Pakistan’s military support in case of any foreign aggression against the country, he has to persuade Riyadh to stop bombardment in Yemen so that necessary aid can be sent to the suffering population. With the help of Turkey and Iran, the warring parties inside Yemen have also to be made to settle their differences through talks.