Daily Times

The long running recipe of sectarian violence and a bloody power struggle has resulted in total chaos in Yemen. Amid a persistent standoff between the government of President Mansour Hadi and a rebel group of Houthis led by Abdel Malik al-Houthi, Yemen has been under siege for the last few months. The agitation has reached its peak and the crusading Houthis want the Yemeni government to accept their demands at the point of a gun. Their main demands include adequate representation in power and redrafting of the constitution. The present uprising in Yemen has become the focus of global attention and a big worry for the US and Saudi Arabia. Both states have a stake in the stability of Yemen. Amid the growing tension, Yemenis are the ultimate sufferers. The Saudi regime considers the Houthis heretics, a proxy of its regional rival Iran and a great danger to itself. As a pre-emptive measure, Riyadh has blocked all aid to the Yemeni government, which will lead to further meltdown in the troubled nation already facing an economic crunch. In this way, the Kingdom has abandoned Yemen through a strategy it has already applied in Iraq. However, after the death of King Abdullah, nothing can be said about the policies of the new monarch. Due to the strategic location of Yemen, the US government is also concerned about the current political scenario. According to US intelligence reports, recent terrorist activities of al Qaeda were conceived and launched from Yemen. In the presence of a civil war and poor economy, al Qaeda will get a boost and become more active in Yemen.

The troubled history of Yemen and other Middle East states should be an eye-opener for all stakeholders. That history shows that not running conflict but a compromise settled all perpetual disputes. Now it is the turn of Yemen and other such states that are facing the terrible consequences of sectarian conflicts and unbridled, violent bids for power. In the present century, no country can survive in the presence of intra-religious conflict, sectarianism and ethnic violence, which only lead to endless destruction and anarchy. It is also the responsibility of citizens that they should not be a part of hate politics, rather they should work for harmony among all groups. At the international level, efforts are needed to make sure that troubled Yemen does not become an ideal location for global terrorism. The solution lies in avoiding self-centred politics and working for social harmony. All forces and stakeholders should be on board and work for reaching a social compact for progress, prosperity and durable peace in the region. Unity is essential for overcoming the nefarious designs of vested interest elements. *