ISLAMABAD: “Everybody says that Pakistan’s Yemen choice was difficult. But I don’t agree. It was delicate vis-à-vis Saudi Arabia, UAE and other Arab countries and Pakistan’s strategic agreements with them. In addition, they are also hosting several million workers from Pakistan. But Pakistan’s decision not to get involved directly in the Yemen conflict was the only right one and I am glad that Pakistan’s parliament made this decision,” said a foreign speaker in the audience, in a session called ‘Yemen: Difficult Choices for Pakistan’ at the Islamabad Literature Festival on Saturday.

The session featured two panelists, a former foreign secretary, ambassador and writer on international relations Riaz Mohammad Khan and TV anchor and commentator Moeed Pirzada. The moderator was Dr Aasim Sajjad Akhtar, a professor of Pakistan Studies at Quaid-i-Azam University.

Riaz Khan gave a historical overview of Pakistan’s relations with the Arab world, noting that it was only after 1971 that Pakistan began considering itself close to and even a part of the Arab world. He said the Iran Revolution in 1979 also came to Pakistan in certain ways since it was viewed as a Muslim Revolution, not only an Iranian Revolution.

Today, he said Pakistan was cooperating closely with Saudi Arabia. Hence, he was of the opinion that it was not obvious that Pakistan had decided not to support the Saudis more directly in the current crisis in Yemen, as Saudi Arabia supports the president forced into exile, while Iran supports the groups seeking change.

The speakers said that although the West supported Saudi Arabia, it is not likely that the West, especially America, would become as deeply embroiled as they were in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Moeed Pirzada reminded the audience that the map of the Arab peninsula is still a product of the British Empire and its agenda at the time. He also said that Iran has recently made a major sacrifice by giving up its nuclear weapons programme.

Moeed Pirzada

The speakers drew attention to Pakistan’s long stated policy of not becoming involved in a conflict in an Arab country on behalf of another Arab country. Hence, the recent policy of ‘neutrality’ regarding Yemen is in line with that policy.

“It would be another issue if Saudi Arabia were directly attacked,” said Moeed Pirzada. He added that in case such a situation arises, Pakistan may have to rethink its promise of supporting Saudi Arabia with troops on the ground.

He also drew attention to guidelines in the UN Security Council decisions regarding Yemen. Riaz Mohammad Khan said that there is little expertise and counter-expertise on foreign affairs in Pakistan. “It is all in the hands of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the military”, he said.

The two speakers expanded the discussion beyond Yemen and the Arab World. They stressed the importance of learning from past mistakes in military conflicts in the region.

Moeed Pirzada said that China had made enormous success as a result of deliberate efforts and sacrifices as part of its modernization agenda. He said that Pakistan should learn from China.

“Pakistan has for long been concerned about security issues, but now it is time to focus on development issues”, he said. “Our modernization agenda should include education, science, agriculture, and so on. We have to see what the rhythm is in the modern times”, he added.

Concluding the session, the moderator Aasim Sajjad Khan said that Pakistan should develop better relations with its immediate neighbours, notably Afghanistan and India. “Yes, and China”, he added in line with debate around the recent visit of the Chinese president.

But he warned, although in a humorous tone, that we should not become too close to any country. “That has happened in the past. Pakistan had to fight wars for its friends and was left to clean up after them as well,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2015

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