Pakistan

Middle East crisis: Pakistan rallies firmly behind Saudi Arabia, says PM

Islamabad to defend Riyadh against any act of aggression; Yemen president recognised as legitimate head of govt

Kamran Yousaf April 24, 2015

PHOTO: HANDOUT

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif pledged his country’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia over the crises in the Middle East on Thursday, even as he explained domestic and other compulsions that kept Pakistan away from the Gulf coalition fighting the Houthi-led insurgency in Yemen.

The premier – who led a powerful delegation comprising army chief General Raheel Sharif, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and other senior officials – held a series of meetings in Riyadh with the Saudi leadership, particularly King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz and Saudi Arabia’s ministers of defence and interior.

The Pakistani delegation also met Yemen’s President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi to assure him that Islamabad considered him the country’s legitimate head of state.

A senior official familiar with behind-the-scene discussions in the Saudi capital told The Express Tribune that the resolution of Pakistan’s parliament was discussed during Premier Nawaz’s meeting with the Saudi king.

Saudi Arabia, which had sought ground, air and naval support from Pakistan against the Houthis, was unhappy when Pakistan’s parliament voted against joining the Gulf intervention in Yemen. The unease in Riyadh and other Arab capitals prompted Prime Minister Nawaz to travel to Saudi Arabia along with Gen Raheel for ‘damage control’.

According to the official, who asked to remain anonymous, Nawaz tried to remove confusion over the resolution of parliament. The Saudi king was informed that Pakistan’s parliament categorically stated that the government and people of Pakistan would stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia if its territorial integrity and sovereignty is violated.

The prime minister also told the Saudi authorities that Pakistan has already started implementing the UN Security Council resolution that seeks arms embargo and travel ban on Houthi rebels.

The Saudi authorities are still keen to gain Pakistani military support against Houthis, although they announced a halt in the month long air strikes in Yemen. Pakistan, on the other hand, is trying to find a middle ground in order to ensure a balance between accepting the Saudi demand and following parliament’s resolution.

The official said the Saudi defence and interior ministers gave a detailed briefing to the Pakistani delegation about the possible threat the Kingdom might face due to the ongoing conflict in Yemen.

The two sides discussed the possibility of deploying Pakistani troops within Saudi Arabia to protect its strategic installations as well as holy places in the event of any eventuality.

The official said that while Prime Minister Nawaz affirmed the country’s commitment to Saudi Arabia, he also called for finding a political solution to the conflict in Yemen. According to him, the premier cautioned that any lingering dispute could endanger the unity among the Muslim world.

The prime minister also informed the Saudi leadership that he took up the issue of Tehran’s involvement in the internal affairs of Yemen during his meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif, who recently travelled to Islamabad.

Saudi Arabia has publicly accused Iran of backing the Houthi rebels, a charge Tehran strongly denies. The conflict in Yemen is seen as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. That is why Pakistan is treading a careful path and is avoiding becoming part of the military conflict.

A statement issued by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman met with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Riyadh on Thursday and discussed the Saudi-led Arab campaign to restore stability in Yemen.

The statement said the meeting was attended by Crown Prince Muqrin, Deputy Crown Prince and Interior Minister Mohammed bin Naif, Defence Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Prince Saud al Faisal. The SPA statement, however, did not provide details of the discussions.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2015.

COMMENTS (14)

Sarfraz Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Speak for yourself Nawaz. We are firmly behind Yemen, and support her right of self-defense.

Frank | 9 years ago | Reply @Neutralist: I don't agree. Pakistani 'parliamentarians' are far more corrupt, immoral and incompetent than the general run of Pakistani society. They are not fit to make decisions that will affect 200 million human souls.

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kaami | 9 years ago | Reply Salute to NS for sticking the resolution that tells a lot that parliament decision is superior than all other things. Democracy is what we should love and those looking for third umpire should be identified as pithoo of estb....... no doubt there are many shortcomings but the way forward is democracy and only democracy. long live democracy.

Neutralist | 9 years ago | Reply @Frank .... There is no denial that the existing electoral and parliamentary system are no exception in a society where corruption is ubiquitous. Those forces who wants to drag us in yet another vicious cycle of terrorism, used to bypass these institutions by surrending to a single phone call. Public pressure which surfaced as another foreign policy defining tool has forced them to bring this issue for discussion in parliament otherwise the situation would have been much different.

Whiskey Khan | 9 years ago | Reply The Saudis are bent on forcing Pakistan to participate in their aggression on Yemen as they are aware that sooner then later the Saudis will have to pay with their blood, so Pakistan comes as a cheap alternative blood to spill to defend them. Perhaps the Kingdom Lovers should volunteering.

Mr. Honest | 9 years ago | Reply @ Gp65 I never said or proposed that we should send our armed forces inside Yemen to fight in any offensive. We can send them inside KSA only for defense and security purposes only. Why should KSA ask for Indian help? Pakistan is more close to KSA than India, brotherly Muslim countries. Who does someone ask for help in time of need? someone he feels close to, and ones own close friends and family. Yes KSA petro dollars have helped Pakistan's defence many times in need including during sanctions.

Frank | 9 years ago | Reply @Neutralist: Yeah, a parliamentary resolution passed by a parliament of rogues, criminals and buffoons. we must not let down our GCC allies!

ahoo.comRex Minor | 9 years ago | Reply Saudi Arabia wanted Pakistan military up front and not behind them? Why take the military commander and putting him in the role of the accomplice to a Charlitan Prime Minister? Rex Minor

Gp65 | 9 years ago | Reply More Indians work in GCC but since India did not accept freebies in the past to live beyond its means and does not have a history of renting its army, no one asked India to send its soldiers. @Mr. Honest:

Mr. Honest | 9 years ago | Reply A sensible step by the government. There are 2.5 million Pakistani expats working in KSA only. Similarly millions in the rest of Arab GCC countries. 65% of Pakistan's foreign remittances come from GCC. You need to deal with it accordingly.

Tony Singh | 9 years ago | Reply How many Bentleys for Pakistan? That is the question.

Neutralist | 9 years ago | Reply Assurances given by the PM and Army Chief in the recent visit are tantamount to trash the parliamentary resolution of staying neutral.

wiser | 9 years ago | Reply This is indeed becoming a joke. What is new in this trip? What is this PM trying to prove? His loyalty to his majesty? Mature leaderships do not behave this way.

kashif | 9 years ago | Reply Nawaz is paying lip service, but Raheel Sharif should insure that nothing is given away. Arab kingdoms are withering away - Pakistan needs to secure its own interests in the face of global change. Iran's growing economy next door, with their burgeoning population is a more attractive investment option - I'm sure NS knows this.

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