

The government, however, had clarified that the Saudi coalition was not meant to interfere in Syria or Yemen. As per Pakistan’s understanding of the matter, this military coalition is meant to fight Daish and its various iterations rather than becoming partisan in ongoing conflicts between various Middle Eastern nations. In view of the delicate situation in the Middle East, Gen Sharif’s decision to head this military coalition does raise some concerns with regards to Pakistan’s future role in the Middle East. Pakistan does not need to become embroiled in sectarian conflict which can have deadly repercussions at home. It will be interesting to see how Gen Sharif balances Pakistan’s policy on these issues and the immediate demands of the Saudi-led coalition force. Gen Sharif must now ensure that his new role does not conflict with Pakistan’s interests or tarnish the legacy he has established through a blemish-free record at home.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2017.
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