Daily Times

The Arab backlash should be an eye opener for us. We need to prioritise what is good for Pakistan. The sanctity of our parliament is important. There should be no departure from the parliamentary resolution nor is there any room for misinterpreting the content and spirit of the decision. The war in Yemen, the opinions and facts surrounding it and the debate in the Pakistani parliament need to be considered objectively to assess the situation and its implications. The most appropriate response would be for Pakistan to play a neutral, mediatory role. The consensus that emerged in parliament was that Pakistan should not participate in any military offensive. There is a need to join hands for a cooperative effort and balanced approach to resolve the Yemen conflict, which is basically a political conflict requiring a political solution. The role Pakistan can and should play is to mediate, influence and facilitate dialogue for diplomatic initiatives to defuse tension. Steps should be taken by the UN towards disarmament and any attempts to remove the lawful government in Yemen by force and violence. The reported gains by Yemeni Houthi rebels and al Qaeda should be a matter of concern for all those who seek peace in Yemen and the region. Cooperative efforts by Pakistan, Turkey and Iran can help bring peace. It is essential to push UN action for peace.
On the third day of the joint session of parliament, the majority of legislators agreed to support Saudi Arabia in case of any threat to its territorial integrity. However, the legislators were not in favour of sending troops to fight the Yemeni rebels. The parliamentarians seemed to be conscious of the fallout of other countries’ wars that Pakistan was forced to join, particularly the US’s war on terror or the US’s war against the Soviet Union. Proxy wars must come to an end and the more serious problem of terrorism has to be tackled effectively and efficiently. Our armed forces are involved in a war against terrorists in our own country, in addition to their usual duties of guarding Pakistan’s geographical frontiers. Pakistan desires greater unity in the Muslim ummah (people) to fight against terrorism and to promote social and economic welfare for people in the Muslim world. The west’s prejudice against the Muslim world can be reduced, if not eliminated, through positive measures and joint strategies. Since prejudice and hate are the root causes of terrorism, a planned and deliberate response is required. A reactive approach would further complicate the situation.
As the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, advocated, we need to work towards internal as well as external peace. Yemen too needs peace within and peace without, and the environment for that has to be created. Regional cooperation is vital for peace in Yemen. Pakistan, Turkey and Iran have an important role to play in this context. By the same logic, Pakistan and the whole Muslim ummah have to support Saudi Arabia in case of any threat to its territorial integrity. Both Pakistan and Iran have agreed to nudge the warring factions in Yemen towards dialogue, according to foreign office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam. She said that Pakistan has repeatedly condemned the actions of non-state actors who overthrew a legitimate government in Yemen, recognised by the international community and the UN. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Pakistan are concerned about the conflict, tensions and distrust. Preparations are being made for a foreign ministers meeting in Kuwait in June 2015 to come up with a resolution to the Saudi-Yemen conflict.
Pakistan’s foreign policy makes it crystal clear that it cannot become a party to any conflict that may be considered damaging to the regional interests of any Muslim country. Pakistan desires peaceful and brotherly relations with all Muslim countries near or far away, without any room for misperceptions or mistrust. Although each Muslim country has its own national interests and foreign policy, the role of the OIC in the context of collective interests and policy of the Muslim ummah should be considered. The OIC should help Muslim countries overcome the impact of all negative and divisive factors, including sectarian divides.
Now that the parliamentary resolution has been adopted, the government should follow up with urgent action and initiatives on various tracks. The Saudi Arabian leadership should be taken into confidence and reassured of Pakistan’s unequivocal support in defending Saudi Arabia in case of a threat to its territorial integrity. If required, additional Pakistani military personnel may be deployed in Saudi Arabia. We should impress upon Iran to exercise restraint in Yemen. Iran has to step back in order to demonstrate that it is serious about its proposal of a ceasefire, dialogue and political solution. Pakistan should also reach out to other important Islamic countries like it did with Turkey, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia, in order to build consensus and momentum to push for a political settlement in Yemen. We need to mobilise efforts within the OIC and the UN to revive the political process in Yemen as soon as a ceasefire takes place. Assuming effective leadership and a proactive role, Pakistan can contribute to regional peace and security while preserving its own national interests and the interests of its friends, including Saudi Arabia.

The writer is a former director, National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), a political analyst, public policy expert and an author. His book Post 9/11 Pakistan has been published in the US