-- Pakistan’s parliament voted unanimously Friday to remain neutral in the conflict in Yemen, a major blow to Saudi Arabia as it seeks to build support for its offensive against the surging Houthi rebels there.
The parliament’s decision came after five days of debate in which lawmakers expressed major concern that Pakistan’s 550,000-man army could become entangled in an unwinnable .
On Monday, Pakistan’s defense minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, said Saudi Arabia had requested that Pakistan send troops, warships and fighter jets to help it battle the Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen. But several Pakistani political leaders were strongly opposed to the request, saying the crisis in Yemen didn’t pose an immediate threat to Saudi Arabia.
Instead, the resolution approved by Pakistan’s parliament warned that the Yemen “could plunge the region into turmoil” if a negotiated peace and settlement was not reached soon.
“This bombing needs to be stopped because, as long as this is happening, the peace process can’t be launched,” Mohsin Khan Leghari, a Pakistani senator, said on the floor of parliament Friday.
Under Pakistan’s constitution, the resolution is non-binding, because the prime minister has complete authority over the country’s armed forces. But Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said this week he planned to leave the matter up to parliament. The members of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N party supported the resolution, suggesting the backing of the prime minister.
After Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes in Yemen in late March, there was widespread speculation that Pakistan would also provide assistance to its long-time ally. Over the past four decades, Pakistan has repeatedly dispatched troops to Saudi Arabia to help it defend its borders or clamp down on internal dissent.
By choosing to stay neutral in the Yemen conflict, Pakistan will likely test the country’s strategic and cultural relationship with one of its oldest allies.
Sunni Muslims are the overwhelming majority in both countries. Saudi Arabia has also provided extensive financial help to Pakistan over the years, including a $1.5 billion loan last year to shore up the faltering rupee.
Sharif also has deep personal ties to Saudi Arabia, where he took refuge when he was ousted in a military coup during a previous term as prime minister in the late 1990s.
But during this week’s debate in parliament, lawmakers say the Pakistani public has grown tired of war.
With the 13-year war in neighboring Afghanistan just now winding down, several lawmakers said the public is wary of becoming even tangentially involved in another foreign war.
“Yes, the decision could have some impact on bilateral relations” with Saudi Arabia, said Amir Rana, an Islamabad-based defense and security analyst. “However, the Saudis understand that this is from parliament, which reflects broadly the Pakistani public opinion…For the first time, a decision about troops in the Middle East has been taken that is in line with public sentiments.”
Rana added he doubts Pakistan’s decision will greatly impact Saudi Arabia’s military calculations in Yemen. Though Pakistan could have infused the effort with fresh resources, Rana said he still thinks the Saudi military is well-capable of eventually repelling the rebels through airstrikes.
“Saudi Arabia won’t occupy Yemen,” Rana said.
Still, Pakistani lawmakers that the unrest in Yemen could broaden into a larger conflict between Saudi Arabia and Shiite-dominated Iran. Lawmakers said that would only heighten sectarian tensions in Pakistan, where Shiites account for about 20 percent of the population.
Pakistan has been trying to stabilize its relationship with Iran, including the building of a pipeline that could supply energy-starved Pakistan with much-needed Iranian natural gas.
“Sending troops to a conflict zone would be disastrous for Pakistan’s own stability,” said Ayaz Soomro, a senator. “Pakistan is a leading Muslim state, and a nuclear power, and we shall use this leverage to take along all other Islamic countries for a peaceful settlement to the Yemen conflict.”
The Pakistani vote came a day after Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif left Islamabad after two days of meetings.
On Thursday, Zarif personally urged Sharif to remain neutral in the conflict and instead work toward a cease-fire. Sharif told Zarif that Pakistan had serious concerns that Iran was meddling in Yemen, according to a readout from Sharif’s spokesman.
But Pakistani leaders also worry that the tension in Yemen could undermine efforts to reach a final agreement between Iran and the United States and five other nations over its nuclear program. That deal could bolster Pakistan’s security by sparing it another nuclear-armed neighbor.
The lifting of international sanctions on Iran also could expedite the planned gas pipeline.
Imtiaz Gul, director of the Center for Research and Security Studies in Islamabad, said the parliament has now given Sharif’s government political cover to avoid getting caught up in the broader jockeying and tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran for influence in the Middle East.
“Bringing the matter to parliament was an intelligent move,” Gul said. “They now have an excuse to stay out of the Yemen war. I don’t know whether it was by design or by default but it provided them with good escape and the government played it well.
The 12-point resolution approved by the parliament said Pakistan will support international efforts to broker a cease-fire, as well as push for increased humanitarian aid to Yemen. Sharif said this week he is particularly eager to work with Turkey, another Sunni-dominated country that appears to be balking at Saudi Arabia’s request for military support, in finding to the crisis.
Pakistan will reconsider its neutrality stance, however, should the conflict directly spill over into Saudi Arabia, the parliament decided.
“In case of any violation of its territorial integrity or should there be any threat to (Islamic holy sites in Saudi Arabia), the people of Pakistan will stand should-to-shoulder with Saudi Arabia and its people,” the resolution states.
Shaiq Hussian contributed to this report.
SuperFan Badge
SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.
|
Culture Connoisseur Badge
Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.
|
Fact Checker Badge
Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to .
|
Washingtologist Badge
Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.
|
Post Writer Badge
This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.
Post Forum Badge
Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.
|
Weather Watcher Badge
Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.
|
World Watcher Badge
World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.
|
Post Contributor Badge
This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.
|
Post Recommended
Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.
You must be logged in to report a comment.
You must be logged in to recommend a comment.
Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in , as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.
All comments are posted in the tab.
To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.