Islamabad: Despite intense pressure from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states pushing Pakistan to join the military coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen, the country’s civil and military leadership have decided in principle not to get ensnared into the conflict militarily.
Following strong reaction from Gulf states over the April 10 parliament decision to stay out of the Yemen crisis, there were speculations that Islamabad might reverse its decision and oblige Riyadh by joining its military offensive against the Houthis.
However, background interactions with officials from the Foreign Office as well as the security establishment have revealed that landing Pakistani boots on Yemen soil is ‘out of the question.’
The country has drawn this red line after an assessment both by the foreign ministry and the security establishment concluded that there was no ‘quick fix’ to the Yemen conflict and the integrity of the Islamic world would be at risk if the crisis prolongs.
“Our policy is very clear that Pakistan will not become part of any alliance that endangers the integrity of the Muslim Ummah,” said one official, who asked to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of the issue.
The official said three factors were taken into account before taking this decision. This includes the integrity of the Muslim Ummah, aspirations of the Pakistani public and preoccupation of the security forces with the ongoing war on terror in the tribal areas.
“Saudi Arabia may have its own way of looking at the conflict but we have to take into account so many factors,” said another official when asked about the possible fallout of rejecting Riyadh’s demand.
The official made it clear that Pakistan has assured the Saudi leadership in unequivocal terms that the country would extend all out help to the kingdom if its territorial integrity and sovereignty comes under threat.
At the same time, officials pointed out that Pakistan, as a friend and brotherly country, is suggesting Saudi Arabia find a political solution to the conflict instead of getting bogged down in the conflict.
But Pakistan’s position may not please Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, which are already upset over Islamabad’s position. Pakistan is already engaged in an unexpected diplomatic spat with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after its Deputy Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash condemned Islamabad’s decision to stay neutral on the Yemen crisis.
While the Foreign Office opted to maintain silence over his scathing criticism, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan hit out at the UAE minister and termed his remarks as an “insult to Pakistan and totally unacceptable”.
