Yemen turmoil: Pakistan, Turkey to launch shuttle diplomacy

If regional nations fail to work out political solution the Muslim world will see further fissures and schisms

ISLAMABAD:

The Houthi insurrection in Yemen is seen by regional states as a ‘proxy war’ of Iran – the country which, they believe, is trying to expand its influence in the region. A Saudi-led military alliance has mounted an air campaign against the Houthis, triggering tensions with the Islamic Republic. Pakistan and Turkey are, meanwhile, pushing for a diplomatic solution to the Yemen conundrum through mediation between the two hostile nations: Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Analysts believe that if the regional nations fail to work out a political solution, then the Muslim world will see further fissures and schisms.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s recent visit to Turkey was part of a diplomatic initiative seeking an end to growing divisions in the Muslim Ummah, said a senior government official familiar with the development. “Pakistan’s diplomatic initiative is aimed at avoiding military involvement in the Yemen conflict because of its possible fallout.”

Addressing the parliament on Monday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif affirmed that Pakistan was seeking a political solution to the Yemen turmoil. He said Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef was scheduled to visit Ankara this week to discuss a way out.

Following that, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutolu will travel to Iran to convey a key message of the oil-rich kingdom. Moreover, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will be in Islamabad on April 8 to discuss the overall situation with Pakistani officials.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuolu is also expected to visit Islamabad as part of the shuttle diplomacy.

A government official said Premier Nawaz was likely to visit other Muslim countries to broker a peaceful resolution of the Yemen crisis. The official said the Pakistani government had decided to launch the diplomatic initiative after an assessment by the Foreign Office and other relevant departments concluded that Pakistan’s military involvement in the conflict could entail huge risks.

“Pakistan has asked Saudi Arabia to give peace a chance, as the Islamic world in general and the Middle East in particular could not afford further destabilisation, considering the already volatile situation in Syria, Libya and Iraq.”

Another official said a special session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation could be convened if the ongoing diplomatic efforts were to yield desired results.

Will Pakistan accept Saudi Arabia’s request for military support in Yemen? “Pakistan wants to be seen as a binding force in the Ummah and, therefore, will not take any decision that runs contrary to this approach,” said the official.


Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2015.