Entering a snake pit

Yemen could become another Afghanistan

Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies are reluctant to send their own troops to Yemen. Saudi Arabia alone possesses 227,000 troops including 100,000 strong National Guard trained by American and British instructors and possessing the latest arms and equipment. The Arabs however insist that Pakistan fight their war. After exerting pressure through diplomatic channels, there is a move now to directly approach religious parties in Pakistan which have been the beneficiaries of the Saudi munificence. After the Saudi Minister and Special Advisor on Religious Affairs, the Imam of Kaa’ba is now in Pakistan on a week-long mission to jack up internal pressure on the government.

On Thursday, the Prime Minister paid a second visit to Saudi Arabia within a few weeks. He was accompanied by the COAS, Defence Minister, Advisor on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Secretary. According to the FO, the Prime Minister expressed deep concern over the increasing threats to regional peace and stability from terrorist groups and other non-state actors. Sharif maintained that it was not only the responsibility of the Saudi-led coalition to defeat the trend but also of the entire international community. One wonders if all this would satisfy Pakistan’s Gulf allies who are keen to involve Pakistan in the war.

Unlike the Gulf countries Pakistan has fought several wars and is well aware of the price a country has to pay in a military conflict. While backing the government’s commitment to defend Saudi territory the Parliament had underscored the need to find a peaceful solution of the crisis while promoting the unity of Muslim Ummah. This was a sensible decision because Yemen is virtually another quagmire like Afghanistan where invaders have tried their luck without success. As an Ottoman accountant general noted once, “Each time we have sent an expeditionary force there, it has melted away like salt dissolved in water”. Egyptian army which fought in Yemen from 1962 to 1970 lost 15,194 soldiers but had to leave without affecting any positive change in the country.