THE uncharacteristically rude statement from a junior foreign minister of the UAE following the unanimous resolution adopted by parliament against sending troops to Yemen seems to be characteristic of the thinking prevalent in Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies.

The statements of the Saudi religious affairs minister and his adviser present in Pakistan were essentially conveying the same message — albeit in a more civilised manner.

In my opinion, this blatant overreaction from Saudi Arabia and its allies could be because of two reasons:

a. Being a recipient of generous economic aid from these countries, they never expected Pakistan to do anything else but comply with their request, nay order.

b. Our prime minister on his recent visit to Saudi Arabia perhaps promised to deliver what the Saudis wanted without fully realising its implications. It is only when he retuned home that the full implications of the request dawned upon him and he decided to dump the case with the parliament.

Our Arab brothers must realise that in spite of all the financial aid that they have extended to us, Pakistan is still a sovereign state with its own compulsions. The lesson for Pakistan should be: that its donors seldom show a nation living on its handouts much respect.

A.J. Marwat

Islamabad

(2)

THIS is apropos your editorial “PM’s responsible response” (April 15). As a Canadian of Pakistan origin and being proud of it, I also agree with you that ‘…the explosive Saudi Arabia-Iran rivalry in the Middle East needs to be reined in.’

If the Houthis, however, represent a genuine Yemeni people’s movement against the dictatorial Saleh regime, who has now taken refuge in Aden and is allegedly protected by Western powers, Saudi Arabia and the Emirate rulers. Pakistan should not interfere in the internal political struggle of the Yemeni people.

Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Bergevin, Canada

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2015

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