A continuing ambivalence over Islamic military alliance

Pakistan has to resist pressure to join misadventures

Pakistan’s policy regarding the Saudi led Islamic Military Alliance (IMA) remains ambivalent. The Prime Minister agreed to join the alliance which excluded Shia majority countries like Iran, Iraq and Syria long before there was any clarity about its precise purpose. Problems were created for Pakistan when Saudi leadership openly targeted Iran in the recently held  summit in Riyadh. Beside  Iran being a neighbor, the second largest Shia community outside Iran lives in Pakistan and is well represented in the country’s civil and military institutions. What has added to Pakistan’s  problems is  that its former COAS  is  heading the IMA.  On Wednesday, while explaining the government’s position before a Senate Committee, Sartaj Aziz said Raheel Sharif could not be recalled because he had joined the alliance in his personal capacity. Within hours, FO was  to clarify that the Adviser was  ‘misquoted ‘ as Gen(rtd) Raheel Sharif had been duly issued an NOC  to head the alliance as required under rules.

In a nuanced statement that was meant to reassure the Saudis while simultaneously satisfy the Parliament, FO maintained that Pakistan’s participation in different activities of the alliance will be decided in consultation with  Parliament. In other words Pakistan would remain a part of the IMA though it may not participate in all its activities.  Sartaj Aziz also assured the Senate that Pakistan will remain neutral in Saudi-Qatar row while its troops stationed in Saudi Arabia will not take part in any  activity aimed at another Muslim country as this would not be in consonance with the National Assembly’s resolution on Yemen conflict adopted in April 2015

Nawaz Sharif has meanwhile congratulated Prince Mohammed bin Salman on being appointed crown prince, expressing hopes that under his  leadership Saudi Arabia  will make progress. The new crown prince being the architect of the kingdom’s anti-Iran policy, there is a possibility of more pressures to be exerted on Pakistan in days to come  to join hands with the Saudi government in its misconceived adventures. Pakistan has to resist demands of the sort in case they are made.