Pakistan

Pakistan should play negotiator's role rather than take part in Yemen war, says Imran

Citing sectarianism as a problem in Pakistan, Imran says country 'has suffered enough over the last ten years'

Web Desk March 27, 2015

Has Pakistan not suffered enough in the past ten years, questions Imran. PHOTO: REUTERS

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan spoke out on Friday on the US-Saudi alliance in Yemen and said Pakistan should be playing a lead role in the negotiation process rather than becoming a participant in the war.

Read: Pakistan 'examining' Saudi request over Yemen intervention

The PTI chief tweeted, "Pakistan should be playing a lead role in negotiating/helping in peace talks rather than becoming a participant in the war"

2/3 Pakistan should be playing a lead role in negotiating/helping in peace talks rather than becoming a participant in the war.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 27, 2015

Imran also questioned whether Pakistan had not suffered enough already by participating in wars waged in other countries.

On going in for US-Saudi alliance to fight in Yemen: Has Pakistan not suffered enough by participating in others' wars? 1/3
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 27, 2015

Citing sectarianism as a problem in Pakistan, Imran said the country "has suffered enough over the last ten years."

3/3 We already have a huge sectarian issue in Pakistan and our country has suffered enough in the last 10 yrs.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 27, 2015

He thereby urged that Pakistan should merely be playing a lead role in negotiating and assisting peace talks rather than becoming a participant in the war.

Saudi Arabia carried out air strikes against Huthi rebels in Yemen on Wednesday, launching an operation by a regional coalition to save the government

On Thursday the Kingdom had "expressed the desire to participate in the operation" against rebels together with Jordan, Morocco and Sudan, which the kingdom has dubbed as the "Firmness Storm."

Amid reports that Pakistan is all set to join the fight against Huthi rebels in Yemen, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that any threat to Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity would evoke a strong response from Pakistan.

Read: Any threat to Saudi's territorial integrity will evoke strong response from Pakistan: Nawaz

Iran has already condemned the regional rival for Thursday's air strikes launched on Huhti rebels and deemed it "a dangerous step" that violated “international responsibilities and national sovereignty.”

COMMENTS (23)

Ganga Din | 9 years ago | Reply This guy named Imran Khan or whatever he calls himself, is totally immature and ignorant about the politics and yet he is making these statements about Pakistan acting as a mediator. To act as a mediator, all parties have to agree and accept Pakistan as a mediator and that is not possible under current climate. But his statement simply reflects his shallowness and lack of understanding about this conflict and he should avoid this type of babbling.

Mirza | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan is a poor third world country. Why should it play any role in a brother country's civil war? Why are so many rich countries beating up a small country and bombing its population centers?

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zafar | 9 years ago | Reply @Rex Minor: Have you even read what he has said? He has said exactly what you are saying i.e. not to intervene. And his statement comes after Saudi Arabia has asked Pakistan govt to join the operation against militants in Yemen.

Ray | 9 years ago | Reply Here is a food for thought ...what are intentions of our good neighbors to the west have been doing: Mahan Air had zero flights btw Sana and Iran before Hutis take over and now 28 flights a week...guess what are they bringing? Iran directly responsible for disintegration of Syria, Iraq and now Yemen. They talk about death to the Jews and death to USA but somehow they have managed to have more muslims killed through their actions then all the infidels combined. I am not favor KSA reactionaries nor should we tolerate of what crazy Mullah have been up in Iran...No wonder KSA sees Israel as less of a enemeny because let us be honest Iran has been up to no good even though we love Iranians as brothers but their actions have been quite opposite...What they had Malaki do in Iraq was totally unpardonable.

Rex Minor | 9 years ago | Reply Imran Khan does not speak arbic language nor understand arabic culture but wants Pakistan a non arab country to intervene in civil wars which are now raging in the middle east? He was quite good i cricket but politics is certainly not his baby. Rex Minor

woody | 9 years ago | Reply What makes IK think that Iran would accept a Sunni mediator - especially one that is beholding to Saudi Arabia for Billions in donations? Like many of IK's ideas - not much deep thinking involved.

Ray | 9 years ago | Reply I share KSA 's concerns about Iranian leadership going bizerk and causing unnecessary devisions among Muslims on secterian basis. Iran has been on the offensive by grabing Iraq, Syria and Lebanon forgetting all the help Pakistan gave them in driving Israelis out of Lebanon. Now we are position to tell the Mullahs in Iran to behave and control Hutis in Yemen...because attack on Yemen is attack on Saudi Arabia. Iranian leaders need to be sensitive and they are playing with fire if they can do the Malaki in every country as he eliminated Sunnis in Iraq. KSA has shown remarkable restrain when Iran has been going aggressive in various countries creating a secterian divide and playing the role of Muslim enemy. Pakistan would not be a bystander it will have to choose....It will have to choose Iran or KSA...IK is dreaming if he think Huthis back by Iran will listen even though they should.

Ashraf | 9 years ago | Reply As usual Khan is out of it. There is nothing to negotiate right now. War has already begun. Next time, I hope Mr.Khan is timely in what he says.

Ch. Allah Daad | 9 years ago | Reply Imran Khan is a best advocate for terrorists and non state actors, but problem is that nobody listens to him.

Sonya | 9 years ago | Reply @Adil Zulfiqar: How it is a super power Adil - how many times Pakistan has been rescued by foreign powers for just not falling down to the floor financially, confronting with India, look at the size of our GDP, see the fractured nationalism, absence of governance, poor judicial system and running of government departments by DFID, USAID, ADB, WB policies and reforms, just having an atom bomb does not make us super power - let's be realistic.

bari yaseenzai | 9 years ago | Reply most importantly why nawaz Sharif did not expressed his support for Palestinian when few months before Israel launched brutal phase of its war against in which thousands of innocent Palestine's have been killed and many other injured why our govt: now participating in war against huthi it is just loyalty of nawaz Sharif toward suadi

shahzad | 9 years ago | Reply Aren't we suffer enough for last 40 years? Fighting in others war can only damage us more? It's war inside Yemen not in Saudia. All we hv to do is to go for peaceful solution. Not to become any party...

Observer | 9 years ago | Reply IK should be the part of the assembly first rather than assuming to be the nations representative coming up with his views. Internally he appears having a soft corner for the TTP rebels which reflects in his statement.

Adnan Siddiqi | 9 years ago | Reply Why is Niazi so "incoherent" most of the times that all of his policy statements are made on Twitter? Has he even cared to consult ex-Foreign Ministers SMQ and Khursheed Kasuri on this matter who have more understanding of these matters than this joke of a politician?

Parvez | 9 years ago | Reply The first sensible thought from a national leader.....well said.

Adil Zulfiqar | 9 years ago | Reply @Sonya: FYI ... Pakistan is a Super Power in Muslim World. and I totally agree with IK's statement. I reckon Nawaz Gov already doing the same.

Hatim | 9 years ago | Reply So who are the actual secular liberals: The PPP whose NA leader wants the "Ummah" to unite under the Saudi monarch or PTI who is actually making sense?

kaz shah | 9 years ago | Reply "@Karachi 4" .......the past proves how well this strategic reasoning and depth has favored Pakistan. bottom line " We never learn from the past"

Karachi 4 | 9 years ago | Reply I do not agree with IK. There are strategic reason that the leadership of the country has to consider.

Haider | 9 years ago | Reply I totally agree IK point of view.But if any threat to Holy Places arise then we all know what Pakistan should do

MalikSaabSays | 9 years ago | Reply If at all anyone deserves fighting for, IF, then its the enslaved and imprisoned Palestinians. IF. But of course poor Palestinians didnt cough up $1.5bn, did they?

Sonya | 9 years ago | Reply I am surprised at Imran Khan's tweet as if Pakistan is a super power and it's existence highly matter in the world. During Iran-Iraq war Pakistan's stance was neutral and this time they have taken a side violating all diplomatic and parliamentary norms for just being loyal more than the king. There are better positions that PTI can take.

Fawad | 9 years ago | Reply I agree to imran khan's point of view here. No point in indulging in another war here. Best is to pay a role a negotiator. We have already suffered a lot die to participating in so many wars.

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