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ISLAMABAD: The government has avoided informing the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs whether or not it has decided to join the 34-nation coalition led by Saudi Arabia which is reportedly planning a ground operation in Syria.
At a meeting of the committee held here on Tuesday, its members expressed concern over the possibility of Pakistan’s involvement in the Syrian conflict.
Saudi Arabia has said that it is prepared to send troops inside Syria to “defeat the militant Islamic State group”. The announcement has been welcomed by the United States and the United Arab Emirates has shown readiness for sending ground troops to Syria.
Answering a question raised by Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry said that details about the ‘counter-terrorism coalition’ were still not clear and that the government would take a decision in due course of time.
Members of the committee, however, called for a categorical statement from the foreign ministry on the issue and said that avoiding the matter would not send a positive message to the public.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said it was unwise for the government to take any position on the basis of media statements.
He said that he had already stated in a policy statement that the foremost objective of foreign policy was to protect national security.
Talking to reporters after the meeting Mr Sayed said “the government’s response was ambiguous”.
A statement issued by the committee said its members had voiced concern over any possibility of the country’s involvement in the Syrian conflict and that this could have repercussions for internal situation.
“National interest should be protected and neutrality observed at all costs,” the statement said.
Senator Farhatullah Babar of the PPP believed that the committee by discussing the emerging issue had conveyed its concern to the government and others involved in taking decisions on such important matters.
JUI-F’s Maulana Attaur Rehman expressed fears that taking sides in the Syrian conflict would ignite sectarian tension in Pakistan.
Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2016
Read more
KSA lacks courage to send ground troops to Syria: Head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Pakistan surprised by its inclusion in 34-nation military alliance
Syrian crisis: Pakistan against any attempt to topple Bashar al-Assad
Sound byte: ‘Iran has done more against IS, Al Qaeda than Saudis’
Shia-Sunni schism: A challenge to world peace
A flawed alliance
On DawnNews
Comments (37) Closed
Feb 10, 2016 08:12am
Shady deal without the approval of Parliament. People of Pakistan do not want Pakistani blood in any where in Mid East. Pakistan can not afford this adventurism.
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Feb 10, 2016 08:47am
Pakistani blood only for Pakistan. Only moral and material support may be offered. It will be a very risky adventure.
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Feb 10, 2016 08:57am
fix your own home first before you send some poor man's son (fauji) to someone else is conflict in someone else's land.
why pakistan is always involved in contrvecial issues?
we nshould step back and find our own ground
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Feb 10, 2016 09:01am
unaffordable. but logistic support should be used
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Feb 10, 2016 09:27am
Pakistan has its own unique culture, food, language, and we dont want anything to do with Arabs.
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Feb 10, 2016 09:36am
Pakistan should not get involved in Syria.
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Feb 10, 2016 09:40am
A big NO to fighting proxy wars for any country!
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Feb 10, 2016 09:59am
Here we go again!
I suspect NS has made some deal with the Saudis which is not privy to the Senate or the people of Pakistan.
Welcome to Pakistani democracy.
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Feb 10, 2016 10:16am
in this modern day and age vague policy... that can happen only in Pakistan....The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?
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Feb 10, 2016 10:18am
It is again a bait and the fight between muslim countries from Syria to Pakistan will destroy everything as already happening around us.
Egypt,Lebanon,Iraq,Syria,Jordan,GCC,Iran and Pakistan will be the pushed to participate in the war and it will continue for long resulting involved countries to be destroyed and the enemy target will be achieved.We all countries including Saudi and Iran to understand the game of the enemy of Islam and must resolve in peaceful and respectable manner and fight this war togather under one banner.
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Feb 10, 2016 10:26am
@mirestan. We have always been bought by money. Now again when the money will speak who will care for the public sentiments?
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Feb 10, 2016 10:48am
" the government would take a decision in due course of time."
This statement itself suggests that Pakistan may join Saudis in Syria war.
If really not so, then why hesitate to say No, we are not going to join ?
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Feb 10, 2016 11:24am
Sometimes remaining vague is the best approach
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Feb 10, 2016 11:24am
none of our politicians own sons or daughter go there as there is none serving in armed forces. (they all live overseas or become minister)
only poor man's "sipahi" son will sacrifice for them in someone else war
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Feb 10, 2016 11:43am
@Lala not even moral or material support to Saudis.
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Feb 10, 2016 12:10pm
Pakistan should refrain from being mysterious or ambiguous participant in any sort of coalitions, we know it is not so easy when we are hand-cuffed with borrowed dollors and subsidised even free petroleum products. We should not secretly trade our national decorum to please one party at the cost of annoying the other. We believe that rapprochement efforts as mediator is far better option than diving into the deep waters of inviting extremism and terrorism into the society. We expect our Government to be bold enough to say NO.
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Feb 10, 2016 12:19pm
We should avoid the coalition of jokers I assume the government has no policy and is just making empty gestures.
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Feb 10, 2016 12:23pm
It will be easy to jump in Syria, it will be hard to get out. There are lot of stakes for involvement, there are consequences for every mistake.
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Feb 10, 2016 12:36pm
This is what you get when you have weak opposition, no oversight committees, no public scrutiny, no transparency and no accountability.
It is a fiefdom made up of NS and his brother to do as they please.
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Feb 10, 2016 12:44pm
Whete were these people when Pak join USA war?
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Feb 10, 2016 12:54pm
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
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Feb 10, 2016 01:31pm
If Pakistan has decided to learn the lesson hard way, then who are we to advise
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Feb 10, 2016 01:58pm
@Raja agreed bro.
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Feb 10, 2016 02:04pm
The only good policy is "to be a peace maker" policy.
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Feb 10, 2016 02:21pm
the drop in oil prices has turned k.s.arabia into a paper tiger.Better to avoid it.
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Feb 10, 2016 04:17pm
The general public opinion seems to go against Pakistan joining the saudi-led coalition to fight in Syria. Its a reasonable assessment that goes in line with our national interests. Jumping into the Syrian conflict can have political and security repercussions for Pakistan. The govt. seems to be at the horn of a dilemma. Islamabad needs to take a balanced step reflecting the strength and vision of its foreign policy and the skill of its diplomacy. The Middle East situation is highly explosive. Entering this war theater can also backfire.
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Feb 10, 2016 05:29pm
The enemies want to weaken our State to take away the bomb through one crisis or the other so get involved in peace efforts not war...
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Feb 10, 2016 05:55pm
my royal and supreme advice is not to launch military in too complex and too dangerous area. Grasping a rational approach it is vital first to resolve crippling issue circulating on motherland before pointing artillery to the other lands. Internal threats are unsettled and unresolved and it will be non-sense to move or proceed up to such an irrelevant war whose is about to resume keeping dead ends.
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Feb 10, 2016 07:06pm
No one wants to reveal the arrangement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, talking in riddles suits their purpose. Citizens are never going to find out what was agreed on behind closed doors.
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Feb 10, 2016 07:13pm
Syria is not the only conflict afflicting the Muslim countries. Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan , Somalia, Nigeria and other minor and major issues are there.
It is up to the Muslim countries to take the lead and resolve the issues concerned themselves, or leave them for the international community, primarily the US & Europe to intervene and take action the way they deem fit and as suitable for them.
In the latter case, we have seen the results closer home in Afghanistan and the Middle East. Better pick up the courage and take things in our own hands. The Saudi proposal of 34-nation coalition is a good starting point. This will be the beginning of the development of " center of gravity" for the Muslim countries including Pakistan.
The Senate of Pakistan must not unnecessarily get alarmed and force the Federal Govt. to stay out and betray our Islamic credentials.
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Feb 10, 2016 08:07pm
Pakistan's foreign policy has failed as we have alienated friends and foes alike. Why did we not have a foreign minister for last 3 years? Why are sensitive foreign policy matters not dealt with understanding and diplomacy? Why has our parliament failed to respect diplomatic protocol and decency in debating foreign policy, as the debate on Yemen turned abusive and vulgar? Why do our neighbors India, Afghanistan and Iran blame us for terrorism? Why does the world blame Pakistan for becoming the epicenter of world terrorism? We demand accountability of our politicians and government for misguided and failed foreign policy. PM Nawaz Sharif must take full responsibility and display strong leadership, or step down.
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Feb 10, 2016 08:13pm
@Jei Shah "The Saudi proposal of 34-nation coalition is a good starting point. This will be the beginning of the development of " center of gravity" for the Muslim countries including Pakistan." The Saudi proposal of 34-nation coalition to eliminate ISIL is a hoax. This coalition of 34 Muslim conutries under the leadership of KSA has its ' Center of Gravity' in the U.S.A of which Saudi Arabia is the most abiding slave.
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Feb 10, 2016 08:25pm
Taking into account the national security does not necessarily mean to mindlessly taking sides with those who are actually part of creating sectarian rifts in the Muslim Ummah. On this point Mr. Advisor seems to be on the wrong footings. It is for sure and each individual with a clear conscience knows the fact that the thing which is enabling the cadres of self styled Daish to go ahead is based upon a twisted ideology rejected by the majority of Muslims and followed by a small frictions is historically started in a brotherly country that is immensely rich and wholeheartedly supported it and now intending to
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Feb 10, 2016 08:58pm
@LALAT in principle it is not possible for a distitute to befriend a rich person and the matter becomes even more complicated when the rich person is on a collision course. If it were not the case than give me a single example of our own country Pakistan where in a poor person can have a claim of befriending a rich person and in return that reach person has done anything for his poor friend. You may say that the Sauidis have done a lot of things for us and very recently given us a huge sum as an aid than i may say that ask the people who are working there in KSA are treated as third class group of maual labor and as far as the matter of aid is concerned it is still in a bank account as a Foreign reserve un utilized for the well being of the overall population. So tell me where is the good gesture and what is in it to call a friend. Instead of bacoming a part of a folly which at the end would burn down our own stock and barrel let us not indulge in such a adventure.
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Feb 10, 2016 09:12pm
@Jei Shah Taking matters in our hands does not necessarily mean that we should jump into a blazing fire which is burning in such a way that now it is not possible for us to extingush it. It is very easy to talk about war but ask from those who are actually in and they will tell you what it is look like. It would be very easy for us to be mercenaries for others but given our present economical position it would be lot more harder to exert ourselves in the matters of those who are advaned economies. Instead of providing foder to the raging war machine it would be far better for us to concentrate our energies to uplift our ailing economy. I bet in that way we can save our home which is rught now seems to be an eye sore not to our enemies but to our friends. The 34 nations allience is not itself a true representation of Muslim Ummah and at this juncture of time it looks like a body of Sunni states at logger heads with Shia countries which is not good at any estimate.
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Feb 11, 2016 08:24am
they have no option but to keep all under the carpet because playing double game and keeping Iran friendly at the same time is mission impossible. But more than 10% pro Iranian element in our society in important positions do know all this and so Iran too. ...In double game diplomacy many a time player is deserted by both sides.
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Feb 12, 2016 03:19am
The government has dealing with the issue wisely. Those who oppose SA forget what KSA has been doing for Pakistan in hour of need. One should not be ungrateful.Ultimately Pakistan should stand with KSA when its sovereignty is fraught with any risk.Why such elements now raise hue and cry did not protest and ask Musharraf to be neutral in the war against Afghanistan which we are still paying for. Hypocrisy is a curse.
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