A delicate balance

oining a fighting coalition in Yemen crisis would compromise some of our other interests and positions internationally

‘Shoulder to shoulder’ does not mean ‘boot to boot’ and the Pakistan position regarding the request for support by Saudi Arabia in its fight with the Houthi rebels in Yemen, remains the same. Unlike many of the Arab countries, Pakistan is a parliamentary democracy. It has a rainbow of political parties and holds regular elections. The government of the day is beholden to parliament, and in this instance parliament has made it very plain that whilst it supports Saudi Arabia in the event of any threat to its sovereignty, it does not support a military intervention of what many perceive as a sectarian conflict. Were Pakistan to join the coalition that Saudi Arabia has put together, it would be the only non-Arab member and vulnerable to criticism for having taken sides in a war that it has no stake in.

This may be difficult for those in the Arab world who have long seen Pakistan, as if not at their beck and call, then at the very least willingly compliant — especially given the number of times Pakistan has been bailed out by, in particular, Saudi Arabia. Pakistan is having to adjust its foreign policy in line with a regional churn and with an eye to long-term futures. International relations ebb and flow, albeit usually slowly, and old alliances come to a point at which they are no longer as vital as they were when originally made. Pakistan is moving to be compliant with the UN Security Council resolution which sets an arms embargo and travel ban on the Houthis, and that is as it should be. We are a member of the UN and are obliged to be compliant with its decisions. The Saudi Arabia-led coalition is a temporary military arrangement. Our greatest strength in this matter is in our strict and unwavering neutrality, from which position we may be able, with other neutral but interested states, to facilitate a peace process in Yemen. Joining a fighting coalition would deeply compromise some of our other interests and positions internationally. We must remain neutral.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2015.

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