What has necessitated a leap in the dark?
The media was fed on the lies in the wake of Pakistan’s military alliances brokered by the US, the SEATO and CENTO. It was given out that the allies in the pacts, particularly the US, would come to Pakistan’s help in case of a war with India. When Pakistan needed the help in 1965 it was plainly told that the alliances were meant to provide security only against attack by a communist country and India wasn’t one.
We have been informed now by the FO that Pakistan has already become a member of the Saudi-led military alliance. Further that the ToRs guiding the activities of the alliance are yet to be finalized. How does one justify joining a military alliance the aims of which still remain nebulous? Saudi Arabia is already stuck in the quagmire by attacking Yemen. Meanwhile UN sanctions monitors have raised concerns that the allies are carrying out attacks in Yemen that “may amount to war crimes.” Can Pakistan facing challenges on both the Eastern border with India and the Western border with Afghanistan and the army still required in Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad afford to open another front?
There are many questions that the need answers. The Saudi government has kept all Shia countries out of the alliance which is an indication of its sectarian thinking. Can Pakistan with a considerable population of Shia community duly represented in all the state institutions afford to be a part of an outfit of the sort? The nation needs to be explained the aims and objectives of the military pact. As things stand even the cabinet members are not clear on the issue, with one minister calling the appointment of former General Raheel Sharif an honour for Pakistan and the other asking him to reconsider the decision lest he become controversial and lessen the respect he has earned. The special relations between the Sharif family and the Saudi royalty must not influence Pakistan’s policy in a way that might turn out to be detrimental to national interests.
