Saudi war games

Sharifs on board?

The prime minister and army chief seem to have done their homework well ahead of the difficult Saudi trip. So far Riyadh is about as unsure about the degree of our participation in its 34-member anti-terror alliance as we are about the contours of the initiative. This exchange will, finally, bring the ambiguity to an end. Chatter from Islamabad – after the national security huddle on the eve of the departure – suggests Pakistan is willing to go as far as intel-sharing and capacity building, not to mention further marketing those JF-17 Thunder aircraft, but no more.

There could be few tougher Middle East specific policy calls for a Pakistani government without a functioning foreign minister than this one, and understandably so. Saudi is an old, trusted friend and ally, but its policies have unsettled the region to the extent that some of its most enduring friends are reconsidering regional alliances. And Iran, besides being a crucial neighbour and an equally important friend and ally, is also coming out of international isolation; attracting new friends because of its investment opportunities.

The decision to share intelligence and help build capacity is the right one considering the circumstances. Pakistan must not interfere in the state of affairs of any other Muslim country, be it Syria or Yemen or Iraq. Turkey perhaps paints the most instructive picture of the pitfalls of taking sides in this war. From being the ‘ideal Muslim country’, it has turned into a state fast breaking down and disintegrating; all because of its obsession, just like the Saudis, with dethroning the Assads from Damascus. As things stand, Pakistan is negotiating these perilous foreign policy waters better than expected. Islamabad must maintain this balance and neutrality all the way.