Putting the brakes on

The calls by opposition parties for an all-parties conference (APC) and a debate in parliament about the Yemen imbroglio is one we wholeheartedly support. As things stand, the government is prepared, at least in principle, to support the Saudi Arabian government’s request for “support” in its actions against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. If acceded to, Pakistan will have taken sides in a sectarian conflict in another country with which it is not at war, and will in all likelihood alienate Iran with which we share a common border and any number of mutual interests. The government is acting unilaterally and on a matter such as this, where troops and material may be committed, it is of utmost importance that there is a public debate with all stakeholders, not only an internal debate among the mandarins of the PML-N. The conflict in Yemen is unlikely to abate any time soon. Saudi Arabia has already massed troops and armour on the border and a ground war involving the country’s military is at least possible if not likely.

It must be stated in the clearest possible terms that the conflict in Yemen is not Pakistan’s war in any way, shape or form. Saudi Arabia is a trusted and supportive ally and we have no wish to strain that relationship. At the same time, it must be remembered that Pakistan is not Saudi Arabia’s handmaiden, doing its bidding at the flick of a wrist. There are also limits to friendship, and if a friend shoots himself in the foot and then asks you to do the same just for old time’s sake, you may pause for thought before pulling the trigger.



The opposition parties are now calling for that pause for thought, an application of the brakes before Pakistan is dragged into a messy conflict with consequences that may be the stuff of nightmares. The battle between the Persians and the Arabs is centuries-old and not one that Pakistan has a stake in. Support Saudi Arabia by all means, make judicious use of diplomacy, but draw a line in the sand as well. We trust that parliament will be trusted in the matter, as well as an APC arranged expeditiously.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 3^rd,  2015.

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