Tied at the stake

A shotgun marriage to Saudi-led military alliance?

Adviser to the PM on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, a clear witted and mentally alert personality despite his advanced age and onerous duties, was for once at a loss for words. And in this instance too there were extenuating circumstances. For the sensitive matter under discussion in the Senate, on which the adviser was relentlessly questioned involved Pakistan’s inclusion in the 41 member Saudi sponsored military alliance of Muslim (Sunni) nations, its mysterious Terms of Reference, and the position of Gen (rtd) Raheel Sharif should the alliance be sucked into a Yemen-like conflict or dragged in to the US-Israeli campaign of demonizing Iran, whom both regard as a state sponsor of terrorism.  This confused venturing into highly polarised regional geo-politics has become another agonising headache for the Prime Minister, there being no Foreign Minister.

President Trump’s speech at the US-Arab summit in Riyadh was the spark that lit up the reality better than anything else. It showed that the US regarded the alliance primarily as an anti-Iranian affair, and the PM, who was in seemingly invisible and mute attendance, should have immediately drawn the correct conclusions regarding Pakistan’s membership of an organisation lacking transparency, and held together by a gossamer thread. But then personal relationships define his diplomacy.

Already, cracks are appearing in the alliance, particularly with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, fuelled by a quarrel with the Qatari Emir over veracity of his descent from the founder of Wahabiism, alleged contacts with Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Commander and congratulating President Rouhani on his re-election which led to banning of Qatari television channel Al-Jazeera, and differences with the Sultan of Oman, who also favours ties with Iran. And President Trump’s flip-flops and policy somersaults are another tenuous link.

The government must provide full details of the TORs when finalised for a comprehensive debate in Parliament and in the intelligentsia before taking a decision. Pakistan has enough apparently insurmountable and insoluble problems confronting it to add the divisive and worrisome issue of sectarianism to the list.