Saudi-led anti-terror coalition: No decision yet on contributing troops, says Aziz

Senators criticise govt for keeping parliament in the dark

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan government defended on Monday its decision to join a new counterterrorism front but pointed out that the issue of contributing troops to the 34-nation military alliance cobbled together by Saudi Arabia was as yet undecided.

Apparently, Pakistani foreign ministry officials were caught off guard last week after Riyadh named Pakistan as part of the alliance with one official saying, “We came to know about it through news reports.” A day later, Islamabad confirmed it has joined the coalition but said the scope of its participation would be defined after Riyadh shared details.



Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz told lawmakers in the upper house of parliament on Monday that Islamabad has yet not decided to commit troops for the Saudi-led coalition. “We are working on what role we can play,” he added. “All members of the coalition will themselves decide about the extent of their participation.”



When Aziz said, “Details [of the coalition] are not available,” Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani interjected: “It’s strange that you have joined a military alliance without knowing its details.” Aziz corrected Rabbani that “it’s not an alliance but a coalition”. He also advised the lawmakers against discussing the ‘matter prematurely’.

But Chairman Rabbani did not relent. “You have become part of a coalition without consulting parliament,” he wondered. Several opposition senators shared Rabbani’s views in their speeches. Aziz said Pakistan was not alone, 33 other countries have also joined the coalition. “I’m not concerned with 33 countries. I’m concerned about Pakistan,” Rabbani shot back.

Aziz advised against ‘pre-judging an initiative’ against terrorism and denying the ultra-extremist Islamic State group a footprint in South Asia. However, he could not give a reason for leaving out four countries even though, according to Rabbani, they were also fighting IS, also known by its Arabic acronym Da’ish.



Before the Aziz-Rabbani back and forth, PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar pitched in highlighting ambiguity in the government’s position on the issue. Referring to a statement of the foreign secretary who ‘was not aware of the development’, Babar said: “It seems the Saudis had been given some assurance before the Foreign Office was informed.”

Babar wasn’t alone. Many senators questioned who was calling the shots on key foreign policy issues and why parliament was kept in the dark. MQM Senator Col (retd) Tahir Mashhadi asked: “Is this coalition going to attack the United States?”



Usman Kakar of the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, an ally of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, said the decision to join the Saudi-led coalition was apparently taken by the security establishment, and “we reject all such decisions which have not been endorsed by parliament”.



Aziz defended the foreign policy initiatives taken by the government during the last two and a half years. “The government is pursuing a policy of peaceful neighbourhood and focus on trade. We will not fight others’ war and we will cooperate with the world against terrorism,” he said.

He also credited the government for bringing India back to the negotiating table.

CCI meeting

In other proceedings, Chairman Rabbani said the government has violated the Constitution by not convening a meeting of Council of Common Interests (CCI) within 288 days whereas the CCI has to meet once within 90 days. “You’re continuously violating the Constitution,” he said addressing the treasury benches. He said he would give a ruling on the matter.



Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Riaz Pirzada said his ministry has taken steps and held meetings. “The Inter-Provincial Coordination Committee cannot be an alternative to the CCI,” shot back Rabbani.

“The CCI is not meant to resolve disputes as it is mandated to discuss 18 subjects. It is supposed to make policy decisions,” Rabbani said. “A mindset is trying to create hurdles [in implementation of the 18th constitutional amendment].”

Pirzada said his ministry has sent summaries to the prime minister for a CCI meeting. “I’m sure the summaries have not reached the PM House. So, in order to facilitate, let me be the bad boy,” he added.


Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2015.