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AS an occasional guest on one of the dime-a-dozen talk shows that Pakistanis watch avidly every evening, I remarked that Donald Trump’s announcement on Jerusalem was certainly condemnable. But shouldn’t Pakistanis be more concerned about the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen — and Pakistan’s murky role in it? The other guest ‘experts’ froze and the anchorperson turned speechless; she subsequently called for a commercial break.
This is typical of how public discussion on Yemen is avoided. A glance at Pakistan’s TV channels and Urdu newspapers confirms the absence of news or critical discussion. While English language newspapers occasionally take a potshot, our obedient media generally echoes the civil and military establishment — which fully sides with fabulously rich Saudi Arabia against its desperately poor neighbour, Yemen.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office made its position perfectly clear on Dec 19. Just hours after Houthi rebels failed to target a royal palace in Riyadh, it rushed to offer congratulations: “The attack was successfully intercepted by the Saudi-led Coalition, by the grace of God Almighty, before it could cause any damage”.
The communique went on to condemn the “increasing frequency and ferocity of the missile strikes, targeted at innocent civilians by Houthi rebels” and declared that Pakistan stands “shoulder to shoulder” with Saudi Arabia.
Siding with those who deliberately seek to starve Yemen’s children has degraded Pakistan’s moral status.
Whether the credit actually goes to God Almighty or to Raytheon’s Patriot missile system — in which the Saudis have invested a few billion dollars — the fact is that primitive rebel rockets have done little damage to a country fortified by the US and UK defence industries. Yemen no longer has an air force or air defences left; Saudi-directed aircraft roam its skies at will.
In the last year, Yemen’s markets, schools, and hospitals have been bombed and famine is around the corner. Even sanitary systems have been destroyed and nearly a million cholera cases have been reported. According to the UN, at least 10,000 have died, with air strikes responsible for 60 per cent of casualties. Over 2.5m Yemenis have been internally displaced.
We can be amazed by Theresa May criticising Saudi Arabia for using the £4.6bn worth of weapons Britain sold to it after the Yemen war began. And it’s almost unbelievable that Donald Trump had actually demanded that Saudi Arabia end its blockade of Hudaydah port. Even this vicious white supremacist does not relish starving Yemenis en masse. These might be pangs of guilt or perhaps a reluctant move to appease international opinion.
Trump and May are, at best, hypocrites. But what shall we say about Pakistan’s damning silence on Yemen’s grade-3 humanitarian catastrophe (Syria and South Sudan are also grade-3)? The Foreign Office has not condemned Saudi-led coalition airstrikes that have deliberately targeted food and water supplies, considered a crime under the Geneva Convention. Nor has it demanded an end to the food blockade. Only the threat to Saudi royal palaces and princes has mattered.
What explains Pakistan’s support? That puny Yemen somehow threatens Saudi territorial integrity, although a claim sanctimoniously repeated from time to time, is unbelievable. The Houthis are unknown to Pakistanis. While there is some vague belief that they are Shia, orthodox Shias refuse to accept them as their own. Back in the 1960s, Saudi forces backed the Zaydi Shias — now part of the Houthi rebel forces — against pan-Arab nationalists.
Most Pakistanis neither know nor care about Mansour Hadi, the recently murdered Ali Abdullah Saleh, or Yemen’s countless tribal rivalries. They also know that Saudi Arabia does not bomb countries for the sake of democracy or human rights. A kingdom that chops off heads and hands publicly every Friday has little use for either.
Pakistan supports Saudi hegemony simply because bags of riyals will buy you everything, including the allegiance of politicians and generals. The Sharif brothers have just returned from Madina, delighted at their ‘victory’ of being allowed to pay homage to the king. And, even if they are not directly involved in combat, thousands of soldiers of fortune — including Pakistan’s ex-hero general — are at the beck and call of Saudi rulers. Religion is used as convenient rhetoric but everyone knows how fake that is or pretends blindness.
Cash is really what speaks. Notwithstanding low oil prices, there’s still plenty floating around. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — the architect of the Yemen war — will soon become keeper of the Holy Places. He has just bought the world’s most expensive home, says The New York Times. The $392m Chateau Louis XIV near Versailles, France, is said to have the world’s best bar. It puts to shame the Surrey Palace or the Sharif properties in London. Salman also bought a 440-foot yacht — this $500m vessel has two pools and a helipad. His worthy daddy’s recent travels were with a 1,500-strong entourage, two Mercedes Benzes and 459 tons of luggage.
Those on our TV channels who daily rail against the United States for invading Iraq conveniently ignore that KSA poured $20bn into Iraq’s war against Iran, or the $40bn dollop it gave to the Americans to chase Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait. But after Saudi Arabia’s muted response on the Jerusalem issue, parts of the Arab world are aflame. Posters displayed at a football match in Algeria depicted President Trump and King Salman as “two faces of the same coin”. After Trump’s Jerusalem declaration, Palestinian protesters in Gaza set fire to pictures of Trump, King Salman and Salman Jr.
Remaining a Saudi vassal state and siding with those who deliberately seek to starve Yemen’s children has degraded Pakistan’s moral status. Who will take Pakistan seriously when it talks of the plight of Kashmiris, Rohingyas, or Palestinians? Worship Mammon if you will and become mercenaries without conscience. But there’s a price to be paid.
The Yemen conflict is said to be a religious proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Maybe it is. Still, there is no reason for Pakistan to take sides. It must stay clear of a messy, bloody war that has no bearing on its security. It is time to bring our troops, retired or serving, back home from Saudi Arabia.
The writer teaches physics in Lahore and Islamabad.
Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2018
Comments (121) Closed
Dr Hoodbhoy, thank you very much for writing this article. However, I feel that you are expecting to much from a morally bankrupt society. Kudos to you, and I pray for your safety and well-being.
Nearly sixty years ago when I was a student in Delhi, we were taught a Sanskrit couplet, which roughly translated meant: as long as there are wise people in your company, not everything is lost, there is still hope even if you see bad omens about the world coming to an end. Dr. Hoodbhoy is that wise person who gives us hope.
Bravo!
The professor is a voice of reason and self-reflection in a deep swamp of ignorance, delusion and denial. Thank you professor. May your tribe increase. .
You are a learned man, sir.
Wow!
Hard hitting. Well written, from the heart and gut. For once I am 100% in step with the professor.
What a courageous article to raise Yemenis plight. The mercenaries without conscience always hold sway over the weak, anywhere!
Disturbing.
Very.
Bravo!
You are the most brave man alive in Pakistan,and Dawn is the most courageous newspaper.I prey for your safety.
bravo!
Now we know the meaning of the phrase calling spade a spade.
Nobody is listening to Pakistan whether its about Yemen, Palestine or Kashmir. We lost that moral platform to criticise other nations for thier misdeeds when we failed to put our own house in order. The debate in Pakistan should be about local issues only and we all know that we have enough issues to keep us going for decades trying to solve them. Pakistan First and if I may add No Second until we regain our respect in international arena.
Wow, such blatant statements - Congratulations for your 'guts'. Be safe
Seldom such sane voices have been heared!
Every line touches my heart. Pak should, definitely, not take sides.
Salute to author. Blunt and well placed. Hope the humanities read it
Brave article from the moral high ground. Bravo
Excellent - agreed 100% - no need to any more
Pakistan needs peopLe like you to show them the mirror. Living in denial will only make it worse.
That is because they believed, and then they disbelieved; so their hearts were sealed over, and they do not understand.
I didn't know abt Yemen conflict till I read this..Thank you for the article.
A very well written article Dr. sb!
eye opener. learnt a lot of things from this article.
Interesting,as always, worthy prof. has taken one sided view of the Yemen conflict ,ignoring the subversive actions of Houthis. And who is behind it all ? These are uncomfortable questions the prof. has ignored.
Wow. Another great analysis Sir.
I wonder whether there are people like Pervez Hoodbhoy left in Pakistan who can write like what he did on humanitarian issues at ease as he does on scientific, political and societal matters. Kudos to you. I am really moved by your passionate support poor Yemenis.
Bravo Dr. Hoodbhoy!
I'm shaken stirred and enlightened by your article. It's people like you who are conscience keepers to a nation and have the audacity to hold a mirror at the people and the institutions. An eye opener and a paradigm which was unknown to many. Thank you.
Probably the only sane and very very very brave man in Pakistan. I pray that all the forces in the universe protect this man.
Excellent article... Please stay safe. We need saner voices like you.
Very well written and good solution. But who cares. Money talks...
Sir i salute to you for being honest
I am impressed by the thoughts of Dr Hoodby...my favorite. But states behave differently than personnel morality of an individual...a basic of IR. In this world of cheat and deceit how many fronts can u afford to open up??
An article telling truth to power! Well written sir!
What a perfect article,to the point,bravo to Dawn for printing this n salute to the writers
Sir, you did write an extra hard hitting eye opener. Thank you. These days we top the hypocrites line, unfortunately.
@Jawaid Kamal , agree on that one. Dawn is a good newspaper OVERALL, under the difficult circumstances it operates and Pervez Bhai is worth listening to in any gatherings. Real gem of a human being!
Your writing make us caring, loving, responsible human again. Thank you for being a force that still differentiate us from being a savage animal.
Nicely written article. Irony is that we as a nation have blemished approach in foreign policy.
kudos to Hoodbhoy and thanks for Dawn...
Great article by Hoodbhoy saab.. it requires lot of courage to write these worlds.
Totally Agree with the views of Dr. Hoodbhoy.
Very smart and persuasive. Anyone listening?
bravo! you speak so efficiently and always manage to take side with the truth.
Brace man Dr you are.
Excellent article
Absolutely agree with your point of view. Shame the rest of the media does not cares to wake up the nation.
Hats off Dr. Hoodbhoy. Excellent article.
Dr Hoodbhoy, you are a very precious asset of Pakistan.
hoodboy please write for iraq and syria and human killing there
To the point and very factual. Thank you dr sahib and Dawn
Bravo sir .. your commitment to reality has no parallel
Dr. Hoodbhoy, words are incapable to convey gratitude on this honest write up.
Dr. Hoodbhoy, words are insufficient to pay homage on this honest opinion....
Very beautiful and balanced article. But Pakistan is not alone in such selective protests.
Thanks for very nice words,
Thank you for speaking the truth.
Great article and voice of sanity, logic and love for humanity and peace
There are a very few in Pakistan who can speak truth like this. In morally and intellectually bankrupt society, you stand out Mr. Hoodbhoy. We have to accept the fact that our government and bureaucracy represent our society as a whole.
Dr. Hoodbhoy keep on such articles that call spade a spade.
Excellent and thought provoking article by the Prof.as always. Qudos to Dawn for allowing different opinions.
No words /adjective available to describe the class of the writer.Utterly surprised ,such sane voice exists in Pakistan.
"Morality" is a word humans have lost long ago. In today's world, it's all about a matter of interest for every country. There are some crying for sake of humanity but that all comes if there is their own interest otherwise no one cares. Thumbs up Sir for your courageous writing and stay safe.
It is a tough world and only those who are well-aligned in the international scenario will survive. What benefit can Pakistan see in siding with Yemen? On the other hand, maintaining friendly relations with the Saudis is critical for our turbulent economy as well as the relation the Sharifs maintain with the Saudis.
Kudos to Dr. Saheb for penning down such a bold and brialant article. I also pray for his safety and well being.
Hoodbhoy as usual you nailed it down, so true yet so sad to see the irony of the situation.
Dr. Hòdbhoy should be applauded for his courageous write up!
Dr. Hòdbhoy should be applauded for his courageous write up!
Pakistan should do more through world forums such as UN relief agencies to push for and participate in relief effort for the suffering people of Yemen.
@Som Tyagi - Very well said. As long as there are wise and humane people like Dr. Hoodbhoy, Pakistan, as well as Indo-Pakistan relationship, and thus future of sub-continent has a hope.
Thanks to Dawn, for publishing it. Hope still lingers on.
good one.frank assesement!
I wouldn't say this article is good or bad; Pakistan should try to stay away from conflicts like this; may be they can learn one or two things from Chinese foreign policy.
Dear Sir, the moral and decent of the world pray for your safety.
Everytime we read something in Pakistan press that uncovers some detrimental news against KSA, we pray for the safety of the writer. Pakistan needs to change this.
Dr Saab what a wonderful strong stand you take. Great appreciation to your bold article.
Thank you Dr Hoodbhoy
@Syed Rehan I do hope and think that it is not society that is morally bankrupt. It is the leaders and thier elitist backers and thier media who are. Society is not morally bankrupt just uneducated and naive through lack of education and the consumption of the lies and deceit of the government backed media. The rulers will do anything to keep them like this as long so they can continue to reap the riches of power including the riyals from other corrupt leaders.
Hats off
Well said. one needs courage to say what you have said. Thank you for your kind thoughts
Bravo DR Hoodbhoy. It is always uplifting to read or listen to you.
I would like to a response by the Pakistani Government to this article.
I rest this injustice and hypocrisy of our leaders in the court of almighty perhaps HE will convict them..
An honest and objective coverage of the facts from a violation of human rights perspective. Collective punishment should not be given because of mistakes of few. Aid for the innocent and refugee civilians must be provided. The powers and powers to be are subjectively silent for the most part on this situation.
A very brave, same, just and humane voice in the howling Wildernesses of cowardice, hypocrisy, greed & utter subjugation. Kudos prof, bold and brilliant as ever.
Saudis are hypocrites. What are we supporting a regime like that it is not rastional
I don't want even my ill-wishers go hungry let alone children of Yemen. Pres Trump should send ships laden with food and medicines under escort of the US Navy to Aden. Saudis dare not interfere.
I admire Dr Hoodbhoy for his courage and his skills for penning in clear, concise prose.
I am sure there are many Pakistani intellectuals just like him who just need a platform to express their views.
Dr Hoodbhoy & Air Marshal Asghar Khan are of the same genre. Upright gentlemen of intellectual integrity.
I solute you for your courage. As a country, we don't have a moral standing to speak for anyone. We don't care about the issues that we face as humans in this Pak Land. Humans and animals drinking from the same pond doesn't leave much to show to the world. Recent orders by the Supreme Court and dressing down of chief ministers about Karachi and Lahore for Clean Drinking water shows who our leaders are and what they are up to.
Dr Hoodhbhoy, If not were for you, then who? We need you to to inspire the next generation of Hoodhbhoys speaking up for justice. I don't see any.
I have always respected Prof. Hoodbhoys views and this article has yet again confirmed it .
Professor we are a poor country. We have millions of laborers in KSA with millions of family members dependent on their remittances. We are in no position to criticize KSA. We need to think about our starving millions first.
Very well said Long live Dr Hoodbhoy
Dr Hoodbhoy, your article is informative and full of facts that no one can deny. It is definitely going to enlighten those Pakistanis who read Dawn. However, it is a sad reality that majority of Pakistanis, who read Urdu newspapers, will remain ignorant and unaware of the facts. Nevertheless, I salute you for having the courage to write it.
Dr Hoodbhoy, thanks for yet another objective, incisive, thought provoking, insightful and courageous article. Essays of this kind are reason that keeps me returning to Dawn everyday. Thanks Dawn.
You are a brave man; I admire you.
professor Saab, Excellent write-up!
Well written no doubt but really a self promotion. Mr. Hoodbhoy would also like us to surrender our nuclear capabilities. Sounding liberal and humanitarian is good for him but he is smart enough to know we can't give up the bomb which is keeping our enemies at bay. Likewise we can't afford to antagonize those whose money our corrupt leaders have been funneling into their foreign bank accounts. Even a person with a fraction of the Professor's knowledge knows we can't turn against the Saudis, or Iranians for that matter. There is something called "realpolitic" and delivering impracticle sermons is not going to do anything except mislead the common man. Like they say - put your money where your mouth is. Start a charity Doctor for the Houtis and participate physically and materially in that. You are pretty well off. Writing fluffy articles to come across as a humanitarian minus corresponding actions is so easy. And dishonest.
What a wonderful article, and a very sad one. What Dr. Hoodbhoy asks every human being, is a simple question. What is a human life worth when the human concerned has no money. It is true for Yemenis as it is true for the Rohingyas. Well Yemen does have some oil, but nowhere close to what KSA has, so in the end speak for the Houthis and Rohingyas at your own peril. This is a mirror to the human civilization.
Jazakallah Sir! May this reach the concience of those who are in power.
In my opinion the author needs to understand the position Pakistan finds itself in the grand scheme of things. It did a good job of sticking its head out for Palestinians where others kept quiet. And at what cost. The results are there for everyone to see. Standing up for whats right is honourable and noble and is the right thing to do. But we don't teach our children this in schools. That we took a stand. We need to make ourselves more worthy.
DAWN is such a great and brave newspaper to publish this article.
Love to see sane voices. Hope for an earlier end of the humanitarian crisis.
Since when Pakistani “ leaders “ had morals, self respect, dignity that just siding with Saud family washed them clean of these virtues.
As usual, great article by Dr. Hoodbhoy. Unfortunately, there are no listeners in our "Great Islamic Republic of Pakistan." What a shame!!
Bravo...Sir..Mind over Matter
Dr Hoodbhoy is an excellent and decent Pakistani. I hope you will be careful and look after your safety.
@illawarrior Dr. Hoodbhoy has written on a subject , which our rulers have compromised and our common man does not know much. I always appreciate your articles and pray for your safety.
Dr. Hoodbhoy you should be part of any transitional government so that there is voice of reason even for a short transitional period
Well Said!
Read carefully what professor Hoodbhoy has written. It would be in the interest of Pakistan to follow his recommendations.
Dear Writer, You spoke bravely, openly and truly.
Sir, yours are the words that need to be openly spoken and shared. The Kingdom of Saud and the US in the Middle East are on the side of injustice, we must not side with these oppressors or aid them in their cruelty.
Dr.Hoopdbhoy. are you sure what you have written are true or just for the sake of writing you choose to write. I feel it is much appropriate for you to teach physics rather putting your nose where you do not have enough knowledge about YEMEN and its history and people. hope you read more about Yemen.
Bravo indeed, Sir! Everyone prefers looking the other way when it comes to KSA. These guys are worse than the Pharaohs of Egypt. Height of extravagance while slaughtering women & children.
Bravo indeed, Sir! Everyone prefers looking the other way when it comes to KSA. These guys are worse than the Pharaohs of Egypt. Height of extravagance while slaughtering women & children.
A Brilliant write-up both on the topic chosen and the way it has been explained. Pakistan is blessed with Dawn and its team of good people who contribute to make us the readers more aware of the world. Thank you.
@S K SINGH . Mr. Singh you grossly underestimate the intellectual wealth of this nation.
Reading Hoodbhoy is an inspiration. Its challenging to side with the oppressed which for now I can only dream. Nevertheless, we need more vibrating voices like Dr. Hoodbhoy.