Analysis: And Pakistan enters war in Yemen?
Apr 6, 2015 15:38:54 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Apr 6, 2015 15:38:54 GMT -5
Analysis: And Pakistan enters war in Yemen?
Pakistan has good reasons to join the Saudis, but critics warn of dangers, increased domestic strife
As the Saudi bombing of Huthi insurgents in Yemen entered its fifth day, the Arab League decided to create a joint military force. But establishing such a force could take months, and meanwhile the Saudis, backed by a ten-nation coalition, seem determined to continue its offensive "until the militia withdraws and surrenders its weapons". While all the coalition partners are Sunni-majority Arab countries, the Saudis have also enlisted Pakistan - a non-Arab country, albeit with a Sunni majority.
This is not surprising. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan share a cosy relationship. Their military cooperation began in the 1960s. In 1969, in a joint air operation they repulsed a South Yemeni incursion into Saudi Arabia. In the 1970s and 1980s up to 15,000 Pakistani troops were stationed in the kingdom. During the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War, Pakistan sent troops to protect the kingdom. It continues to provide extensive training support for the Saudi milItary, and has regularly sold small arms to the Saudis. It is widely believed that the two have an understanding whereby Pakistan provides nuclear cover for the Saudis.
During the Afghan jihad against the Soviet Union in the 1980s, the Saudis funneled billions to Pakistan as a frontline state and subsequently became one of only three countries to recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan. According the Saudi analyst Madawi al-Rasheed, the alliance with Pakistan helped Saudi Arabia promote Islamic identity rather than Arab nationalism.
More recently Pakistani security officers helped the Bahraini royals put down a popular uprising there.
After initial hesitation, Pakistan has now announced that it will join the Saudi forces bombing Yemen. A joint session of the National Assembly and the Senate starts debating the issue on Monday,
Pakistan's leaders and army have sufficient reasons for backing such a controversial move.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is beholden to the Saudi royal family, which took him in when he was overthrown by a military coup in 1999 and was forced into exile.
The Pakistani army, a decisive force in the country's foreign policy, has a strained relationship with the US over its role in battling the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan. Now that the Americans have committed to retaining troops in Afghanistan, the Saudi request seems to have come at an opportune time. Saudi funds in return for Pakistani military aid are now more attractive than ever.
Saudi Arabia last year loaned $1.5 billion to Pakistan to help Islamabad pay its debts and undertake much needed infrastructure projects. Saudi investment, together with remittances of around 1.5 million Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia, are much needed.
It is a perfect client-patron relationship, with which the Saudis are most comfortable, according to analysts.
"Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif with Saudi King Salman"
For both the Saudis and the Pakistanis this may serve as an opportunity to snub the US. Muslim Pakistan will find it less antagonistic to station its troops on Saudi soil than in a non-Muslim country. At the same time, concerns of intra-Arab differences which can make the coalition shaky can be overridden with the inclusion of Pakistan. If, at any future time, ground troops need to be injected into Yemen, Pakistan can provide them. Finally, with a more central Pakistani role, any collateral damage against fellow Arabs can be attributed to the former - useful to keep the tide of Arab opinion in favor of the Saudis.
Some Pakistanis are not comfortable with the decision of their government, which they feel should not get embroiled in the Saudi-Iranian rivalry at the heart of the conflicts in the region.
Iran is contiguous to Pakistan and can be expected to not sit back while Pakistan participates in operations that ultimately target its protégé - the Huthis - and ultimately Iran itself.
Many liberal Pakistanis are uncomfortable with the fact that for sometime now Pakistan has been undergoing a process of Arabization, evolving into what many cynically refer to as "Al-Bakistan". A vast network of mosques and madrassahs, at least 50 per cent of which are funded by the Saudis, has been promoting the Wahhabi form of Islam, leading to religious radicalism and sectarian strife. Violence against the Shia, who form 20 percent of the population and other religious minorities have increased, claiming thousands of lives.
After the December school bombings, the country's Saudi connections came in for a fair amount of criticism. The Pakistani army has been battling terrorists within its own territory on the one hand, and insurgencies like the Baluch on the other. Joining the operations in Yemen will further stretch the army and water down Pakistan's own war against terrorists.
The main opposition party of former cricketer Imran Khan had already warned the government against joining the Saudi coalition, as have Pakistani editorials and civil society.
A Pakistani military role in the Middle East raises concerns of Iranian interference in Pakistan, more mayhem, greater sectarian violence and more emboldened terror groups.
link
Pakistan has good reasons to join the Saudis, but critics warn of dangers, increased domestic strife
As the Saudi bombing of Huthi insurgents in Yemen entered its fifth day, the Arab League decided to create a joint military force. But establishing such a force could take months, and meanwhile the Saudis, backed by a ten-nation coalition, seem determined to continue its offensive "until the militia withdraws and surrenders its weapons". While all the coalition partners are Sunni-majority Arab countries, the Saudis have also enlisted Pakistan - a non-Arab country, albeit with a Sunni majority.
This is not surprising. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan share a cosy relationship. Their military cooperation began in the 1960s. In 1969, in a joint air operation they repulsed a South Yemeni incursion into Saudi Arabia. In the 1970s and 1980s up to 15,000 Pakistani troops were stationed in the kingdom. During the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War, Pakistan sent troops to protect the kingdom. It continues to provide extensive training support for the Saudi milItary, and has regularly sold small arms to the Saudis. It is widely believed that the two have an understanding whereby Pakistan provides nuclear cover for the Saudis.
During the Afghan jihad against the Soviet Union in the 1980s, the Saudis funneled billions to Pakistan as a frontline state and subsequently became one of only three countries to recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan. According the Saudi analyst Madawi al-Rasheed, the alliance with Pakistan helped Saudi Arabia promote Islamic identity rather than Arab nationalism.
More recently Pakistani security officers helped the Bahraini royals put down a popular uprising there.
After initial hesitation, Pakistan has now announced that it will join the Saudi forces bombing Yemen. A joint session of the National Assembly and the Senate starts debating the issue on Monday,
Pakistan's leaders and army have sufficient reasons for backing such a controversial move.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is beholden to the Saudi royal family, which took him in when he was overthrown by a military coup in 1999 and was forced into exile.
The Pakistani army, a decisive force in the country's foreign policy, has a strained relationship with the US over its role in battling the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan. Now that the Americans have committed to retaining troops in Afghanistan, the Saudi request seems to have come at an opportune time. Saudi funds in return for Pakistani military aid are now more attractive than ever.
Saudi Arabia last year loaned $1.5 billion to Pakistan to help Islamabad pay its debts and undertake much needed infrastructure projects. Saudi investment, together with remittances of around 1.5 million Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia, are much needed.
It is a perfect client-patron relationship, with which the Saudis are most comfortable, according to analysts.
"Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif with Saudi King Salman"
For both the Saudis and the Pakistanis this may serve as an opportunity to snub the US. Muslim Pakistan will find it less antagonistic to station its troops on Saudi soil than in a non-Muslim country. At the same time, concerns of intra-Arab differences which can make the coalition shaky can be overridden with the inclusion of Pakistan. If, at any future time, ground troops need to be injected into Yemen, Pakistan can provide them. Finally, with a more central Pakistani role, any collateral damage against fellow Arabs can be attributed to the former - useful to keep the tide of Arab opinion in favor of the Saudis.
Some Pakistanis are not comfortable with the decision of their government, which they feel should not get embroiled in the Saudi-Iranian rivalry at the heart of the conflicts in the region.
Iran is contiguous to Pakistan and can be expected to not sit back while Pakistan participates in operations that ultimately target its protégé - the Huthis - and ultimately Iran itself.
Many liberal Pakistanis are uncomfortable with the fact that for sometime now Pakistan has been undergoing a process of Arabization, evolving into what many cynically refer to as "Al-Bakistan". A vast network of mosques and madrassahs, at least 50 per cent of which are funded by the Saudis, has been promoting the Wahhabi form of Islam, leading to religious radicalism and sectarian strife. Violence against the Shia, who form 20 percent of the population and other religious minorities have increased, claiming thousands of lives.
After the December school bombings, the country's Saudi connections came in for a fair amount of criticism. The Pakistani army has been battling terrorists within its own territory on the one hand, and insurgencies like the Baluch on the other. Joining the operations in Yemen will further stretch the army and water down Pakistan's own war against terrorists.
The main opposition party of former cricketer Imran Khan had already warned the government against joining the Saudi coalition, as have Pakistani editorials and civil society.
A Pakistani military role in the Middle East raises concerns of Iranian interference in Pakistan, more mayhem, greater sectarian violence and more emboldened terror groups.
link
