Lack of clarity on Yemen

The government must avoid becoming embroiled in any situation which could lead us into deeper and deeper complexities

Pakistan’s continued reluctance to clarify precisely what it means when it says it will support Saudi Arabia in the conflict that is tearing Yemen apart, with Houthi rebels having occupied large swathes of territory in the country is disturbing. We also do not know what promises were made to the government in Riyadh by the high-powered delegation led by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, which recently visited the Kingdom to meet with top officials, including members of the Royal family. Statements made after a meeting in Islamabad on April 16, during which the prime minister was briefed on the visit have been vague; some say deliberately so. This is disturbing.

What we need most of all is clarity. As citizens we must be told precisely what commitments have been made to the Saudis, and what is meant when Islamabad says they have our support. Certainly, we would wish to remain allied with the Saudis. They have in the past proved themselves to be important allies. But this does not mean we should allow ourselves to be dragged into someone else’s war. That would simply damage us in many ways, particularly when we are already caught up in crises of many different kinds at home. It is these problems that we need to tackle first of all.

At the same time, we must also play out our diplomatic cards well. It is understood that the Saudis seek Pakistani troops on the ground. We, of course, must consider what is best for us. This would not appear to include any adventures in the Middle East. Our precise position must then be made public, so that the guessing games can be ended, people put in the picture and the impression that the government is attempting to fool us taken away. The Yemen issue was discussed in parliament and we saw a unanimous resolution being passed. The government must respect this and remember Pakistan and its people are most important to us and avoid becoming embroiled in any situation which could lead us into deeper and deeper complexities. We certainly do not need these right now, given the way things stand.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2015.

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