The volatile Yemeni imbroglio has brought members of both houses of Pakistan’s Parliament together on the floor of the National Assembly to debate the issue of Pakistan’s level and mode of support to Saudi Arabia in its war against Yemen. Unambiguously, Saudi Arabia has been a time-tested friend of Pakistan, and its call for support cannot be disregarded. The fact that also cannot be overlooked is Pakistan’s own amalgam of predicaments that continues to grow by the day and keep the administrators and armed forces of the country heavily preoccupied in dealing with them.
In his address on the floor of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at the outset called on Iran to get involved in a debate on the issue of security in Yemen. He asserted that “Iran should also join the discussion and evaluate whether their policy is correct or not”. The premier outrightly accepted the fact that the Yemen issue is extremely sensitive. He said that the joint session of the Parliament was certainly not called to manipulate the mandate. Premier Nawaz Sharif further clarified that before taking any decision the government sincerely wants to take the mandate of the Parliament, which, he said, will be earnestly considered in the country’s national plan of action on Yemen.
Addressing the joint session PML- Q Senator Mushahid Hussain addressing the Assembly assures that is not a sectarian war but in fact a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The ongoing brawl in Yemen is a Yemeni civil war and there is no doubt that we are indebted to Saudi Arabia and will protect them if their territorial integrity comes under threat, he emphasized. He asserted on the occasion that the first and foremost duty of Pakistan and its government is to protect it national security.
Venting his views on the deepening Yemeni conundrum Senator Farhatullah Babar of Pakistan Peoples Party said we would be able to honour Saudi request to a certain extent, but Pakistan should not allow itself to be sucked in a war in a distant land, he categorically stated. ANP leader Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Member National Assembly of Pakistan said that Pakistan should help in negotiating peace rather than take active part in the Yemen war.
The Federal Minister for Defence, Khawaja Muhammad Asif informed the members of both the houses of the Parliament that Riyadh has asked for Pakistani troops as well as fighter jets and navy vessels for logistic support. He said Pakistan has not turned down the request, and it is weighing the options for fulfilling it.
From the views so far expressed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the law makers of the country it is evident that Pakistan should not jump in to the current Yemeni scrimmage directly. Pakistan, they are of the considered opinion, must clearly bear in mind that its own security situation is extremely vulnerable and its forces are already heavily engaged in fighting a war against terror. Beyond any shadow of doubt, Saudi Arabia is a very close friend of Pakistan. Outrightly disregarding Saudi request for military support, regardless of its ramifications, would not be an appropriate decision to take. Pakistan must endeavor to convince the Saudi authorities, as well as the other parties entangled in the war in Yemen, that diplomacy must be given a chance in resolving the Yemeni crisis.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan has very sensibly stated that Iran must be involved in the diplomatic efforts proposed to be made in resolving the current imbroglio in Yemen. The views expressed by the visiting Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif on the grave Yemeni situation that Pakistan and Iran should cooperate to solve the deepening crisis in war-ravaged Yemen, and make efforts to bring about a political solution to the present crisis, is indeed very encouraging. This is exactly what Pakistan is also aiming at. However, God forbid if diplomacy fails and the territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia stands challenged, Pakistan will have no choice but to stand by its time-tested friend Saudi Arabia.
M FAZAL ELAHI
Islamabad