Even if the Saudis have been exerting pressure to involve us in the Syrian conflict, this must be resisted at all cost
KARACHI: Foreign ministry spokesperson Tasneem Aslam has said that envoys from key Middle Eastern countries have been summoned by Pakistan’s Foreign Office to meet here on May 4 for an urgent discussion with regard to the situation in Syria and the Middle East in general.
The situation in Syria has been changing during the last few months in favour of the Syrian government led by Bashar alAssad, with the Syrian Army claiming victories in and around Damascus. The latest report shows that Homs, Syria’s third largest city, has been recaptured from the rebels and a ceasefire has been announced so that the rebels and their families can withdraw from the city. This major Syrian victory shows that another regime change project of the US and its allies, including Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States, seems to be collapsing.
While there could be different interpretations about what happened in Syria and how one should evaluate Assad’s regime, there should be no doubt at all that Pakistan must resist all pressures from abroad to get involved in that conflict by either sending troops — even ex-servicemen — or weapons or any material assistance. This is not our business at all! Pakistan has enough problems on its plate and there is no need for more. While we know that Nawaz Sharif’s government has close ties to Saudi Arabia, we must understand that the Saudis prioritise their national interest first. And even if the Saudis have been exerting pressure to involve us in the Syrian conflict, this must be resisted at all cost since that would serve our national interest. With an active insurgency within our own country and changing regional dynamics, particularly in Afghanistan, and considering our strained relationship with Iran, any involvement in Syria is an absolute no go. Let’s hope and pray that sanity prevails.
Ali Ashraf Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2014.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
