News analysis: Pakistan opts for neutral stance in Yemen conflict

Pakistan's parliament has suggested to the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to stay away from the Arab countries' war in Yemen. A unanimously passed resolution on Friday has now put an end to apprehensions of opposition leaders who were concerned that the country may jump into an Arab conflict.

The 12-point resolution, jointly drafted by the treasury and opposition benches, says the parliament "desires that Pakistan should maintain neutrality in the Yemen conflict so as to be able to play a proactive diplomatic role to end the crisis."

The resolution was adopted in the presence of Prime Minister Sharif on Friday at the conclusion of a five-day debate.

Saudi Arabia had formally requested Pakistan to provide fighter jets, warships and ground troops, the country's defense minister, Khwaja Asif, told the parliament session convened exclusively to debate on the crisis in Yemen. Saudi officials had conveyed the request to a high level Pakistani defense delegation earlier this month.

The Pakistani government had been in a fix as to how to respond to the Saudi call in view of its strong relations with Saudi Arabia and its allies in the conflict and also to how to address the concerns in the country.

A vast majority of lawmakers opposed Pakistan's joining a conflict in the Middle East on grounds that the country is still suffering from its role in the U.S.-led coalition that had toppled the Taliban regime in neighboring Afghanistan in late 2001. Then military President Pervez Musharraf had offered some air bases to the American army to bomb Taliban positions from in airstrikes in Afghanistan against the Taliban, whose government (1996-2001) had been recognized by Pakistan.

Senior political leaders argue that Pakistan has lost nearly 50, 000 people and suffered 100 billion U.S. dollars for joining the Afghan war and that Pakistan cannot afford to take part in another war.

Pakistani forces have cleared most of the tribal areas from the Taliban and other militant groups, but are still battling the armed groups in North Waziristan and Khyber tribal regions. On Saturday a Pakistani soldier was killed in an attack by the Taliban militants in North Waziristan.

Although many in Pakistan agree to defend Saudi Arabia if its territorial integrity is threatened in view of the Muslims' Holy Places in the Kingdom, there is very little support for sending troops or fighter planes to Saudi Arabia for taking part in the fight.

The parliamentary resolution calling for a neutral role is important for Pakistan as it is in line with the majority opinion in the country. Many in Pakistan believe the war in Yemen is a sectarian conflict and a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia as certain elements could take advantage of Pakistan's participation to further complicate the problem.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also made the decision to travel to Turkey this month for consultations on the Yemen crisis. Both important countries in the Muslim world called for a peaceful solution to the conflict.

The visit to Islamabad by the Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif was timely as Tehran had some concerns over Arab media reports that Pakistan is supporting Saudi Arabia and its allies in the war in Yemen. Zarif, who met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the army chief, General Raheel Sharif, seemed satisfied at Pakistan's position when he spoke to reporters after talks.

Pakistan's top military commanders on Friday also expressed views on the issue, which are on the same page with the parliamentary stance.

"With regard to the Yemen-Middle East Conflict, the forum deliberated at length on the gravity of the situation and stressed that continuation of the conflict will have serious implications for regional security," the army said in a statement. Endi