ISLAMABAD:
Islamabad is yet to accept Riyadh’s request for support to prevent military invasions into Saudi Arabia by the Islamic State (IS), the ultra-extremist group that has made significant gains in Iraq and Syria.
The issue was a key item on the agenda during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Saudia Arabia earlier this month.
Nawaz visited the oil-rich kingdom last week on the special invitation of the Saudi monarch. The two leaders shared similar views on all important issues, including the need to combat terrorism, according to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
A senior official believed that Riyadh wants Islamabad to send troops to help it in the fight against IS, in a bid to ward off the IS threat at the Saudi border.
In return, the new Saudi monarch has offered Islamabad an economic package: a vast supply of oil on deferred payment.
Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry recently informed the Senate panel on foreign affairs that Pakistan would not become part of any international coalition against IS.
Prime Minister Nawaz has not given Saudi Arabia any firm assurance over the request.
Saudi Arabia is the biggest buyer of weapons in the Arab world, why do they need the help of Pakistan? Germany has indicated this fact and it is also considering an embargo on sales of any further weapons to SA.
They don't want weapons , they want pakistani people to die like rats , for them.
The Saudis have given Sisi 25 Billion dollars and Sharif only 1.5! Should it not be Egyptians doing the dying for the Sudhairi clan? Pakistan should get at least twice that for the dubious duty.
During Nawaz Sharif's recent visit to Saudi Arabia the new King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud is understood to have requested additional Pakistani armed forces to guard the kingdom against threats emerging in the region like from Daish (Islamic State) which has already occupied large areas of Iraq and Syria. As a matter of fact, leaders from Turkey and Egypt were also invited to the Kingdom for presumably the same purpose.
In addition to Daish, the kingdom faces additional threats due to Shia Houthis takeover of Yemen capital as well as the growing influence of Shia Iran in Iraq and all the way up to Syria.
One way would be for Pakistan to opt to stay out of this Sunni-Shia war that the Saudi Arabia and Iran have been fighting all over the region, including Pakistan. Obviously, becoming a foot soldier for Saudi Arabia, despite the inducements it could bring, would be suicidal because it could produce serious consequences for us which may be out of all proportions to the financial inducements received, and at a time when we are already fighting an anti-terrorism war, it would not make sense to open additional fronts abroad and at home.
However, being the strongest militarily and the only nuclear power in the Muslim world, Pakistan could use this opportunity to become a leader of the Muslim bloc. And instead of taking sides in the Sunni-Shia war, Pakistan could impress upon Saudi Arabia and Iran to try to end this proxy war which has done great harm to the Muslim world and is a big hindrance to their unity. Surely, it is time for the Muslim countries drop their petty rivalry and prejudices and join hands for common good. With over 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide and with more than fifty states, they could become a power to reckon with and would not need United States and its allies, first to come to destabilize the region, like they did with Iraq, Syria and Libya and later pose as great peace makers, trying to fight the monsters like Daish which are the direct result of their destabilization of Iraq.
It could be a great opportunity for Nawaz Sharif and Gen. Raheel Sharif to unite the Ummah and try to solve this Sunni-Shia and other rivalries which are holding them all back. Freed from these unproductive, rather destructive pursuits, the countries could devote their energies and resources to uplifting the living standards of the masses, developing science and technology, and doing other worthwhile things which could earn them a position of respect in the world.
Now, if there is a broad agreement among the major Muslim countries to start a policy of reconciliation instead of that of confrontation, Pakistan could get involved and contribute soldiers to form part of the broad coalition that may be formed to guard the individual as well as collective interests of the Ummah. And Nawaz and Raheel Sharif should not just wait to be told what part they are required to play but should take the initiative and try to organize the whole thing. Having excellent and close relations with nearly all major Muslim countries, we are best-suited for this role anyway.
Karachi
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