No proxy war: National interest to determine role in Yemen, says FO

Foreign ministry spokesperson dispells impression that Pakistan was reluctant to join alliance because of Iran

ISLAMABAD:

The Foreign Office said on Thursday that Pakistan does not see the ongoing crisis in Yemen as a conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran and made it clear that any decision on the issue will be taken keeping in view the country’s national interest.

At her weekly briefing, foreign ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam dispelled the impression that Pakistan was reluctant to join the Saudi-led Gulf-states alliance because of Iran. “How does Iran come into this? Is this your interpretation of the situation between Saudi Arabia and Iran? This is not our assessment,” she said.

Responding to the query as why Pakistan had not sent a delegation to Tehran as it did in the case of Riyadh, Tasnim insisted that Tehran has nothing to do with the conflict in Yemen and hence there is no need for a similar contact with the neighbouring country.

“You would recall that Saudi Arabia established contact with Pakistan. Two, Saudi Arabia has announced a military action in Yemen at the request of Yemen’s legitimate government. I do not see why similar contact is required with Iran,” she explained.

However she did confirm that Iranian authorities met the Pakistani ambassador in Tehran to discuss the issue. Official sources said that Iran’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Javed Zarid is expected to travel to Pakistan next week amid the worsening situation in Yemen. He is likely to be in Islamabad on April 8 and will meet Pakistani authorities to discuss the situation.

Reports suggested that Iran wanted to talk to Pakistan over speculations that it was all set to join the Saudi-led Gulf-states alliance against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Iran has publicly condemned the Saudi attacks against Houthi rebels and sought to have them cease immediately.

Tasnim made it clear that Pakistan had not yet taken a decision to send troops to Saudi Arabia. She acknowledged that there had been opposition and different views were being expressed within the country on the issue of sending troops to Yemen. However, she said protecting the Holy Places was the responsibility of all the Muslims and in that context Pakistan reiterated its commitment to support Saudi Arabia.

Evacuation out of Yemen

The spokesperson said Chinese ships carrying as many as 186 Pakistanis reached Djibouti from where they would be flown back to the country in a special PIA flight today (Friday).

“Our Ambassador in Ethiopia, along with staff, has been in Djibouti since yesterday. A camp office has been set up for all local coordination. All local logistics arrangements and clearances required including flight clearance, immigration, transit, transport etc. have been already organized,” she said.

She said a Pakistan Navy ship has already arrived at Mukallah, anchored in the open sea. Around 175 Pakistanis are assembled in large groups waiting for the clearance to proceed to the port. However due to skirmishes overnight, the roads leading to the port have been closed by the military authorities.

From the port they will be brought to the ship through boats. Once they embark, the ship will bring them back directly to Karachi.  It is only due to the clashes close to Mokallah where, reportedly, a prison break occurred last night due to which the operation has been delayed slightly.

Regarding Sana’a, she said Pakistan is monitoring the situation in the city. “We are in contact with the stranded Pakistanis there whose numbers have now reached 145. These are the ones who could not join the convoy led by the ambassador to Hudaida, for one reason or the other, and thus could not be airlifted.

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