Syed Javed Hussain
Furthermore to bring together other monarchies and principalities in the area together in a joint venture; especially in an atmosphere of freedom and democracy, it needs to project Iran as an existential threat. Unfortunately the West is buying that for convenience sake.
The US-Canada and other Islamic countries' support to Saudi aerial strikes against Yemen is no less than condoning the Saudi aggression against yet another Islamic country.
Saudi involvement in Yemen has opened many fronts not only for its own self but for its well-wishers as well. After getting support from the Arab League Saudis are cajoling Pakistan to fall in line and get trapped in Arab Augean stable.
Pakistan, having a strong and well prepared army, is the only Islamic nation that has nuclear arsenal. More than that its prime minister has deep personal relation with the House of Saud.
Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Nawaz Sharief on Tuesday said, “Pakistan holds Saudi Arabia in very high esteem and considers the security of the holy land of utmost importance." A statement issued from his office emphasised that “Any violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Saudi Arabia would evoke a strong reaction from Pakistan.”
On the streets of Pakistan the government of Pakistan has no support for any action against Yemen. It is quite yet to be seen whether personal diplomacy of Saudis can thrust Pakistan army into yet another broil.
Contrary to the wishes of Pakistani people the government is actively pursuing some hidden agenda for its own ulterior motives.
A delegation comprising Pakistan's defense minister Khawaja Asif and foreign affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz was in Saudi Arab the same day the prime minister issues the statement in support of the kingdom and held talks with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Mohammad bin Salman and other high-ranking Saudi officials over “Operation Decisive Storm” and Pakistani participation.
Pakistan's defense minister says that Pakistan is committed to safeguard the territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia through all means.
Clichés hold the truth hostage. Is Saudi Arab being attached? Is territorial integrity of the country in danger? The truth is contrary to the propaganda that is being drummed into our ears.
People fail to understand how Saudi Arabia with arsenal worth billions of dollars under its belt can be in danger so that an Islamic nuclear nation should come to its rescue?
Political circles of the only nuclear country in the lands of Islam understand that the overriding concern of the house of Saud is its own perpetuation. Exploitation of religious sentiments come as a handy tool which is quiet effectively used by the Saudis.
For the majority of Pakistanis Iran is no more threat to Saudi Arabia than Europe is to Israel. Even though Iran in the past has always been hypercritical of Saudi Arab over House of Saud's injustices, coercion and exploitation of its Shia minority, it has never threatened Saudi Arab for direct action.
Saudi Arab, instead of correcting its policies, has always found it unpalatable and whipped the tension against Iran to continue with its coercive policies against Shia minority at home.
Further yet another popular theory goes like this. To perpetuate its monarchy, the House of Saud needs a diversion and to continue to exploit country's resources, which incidentally lie in Shia majority areas, it needs an enemy to rally around.
Information
Pakistan, having a strong and well prepared army, is the only Islamic nation that has nuclear arsenal. More than that its prime minister has deep personal relation with the House of Saud. Saudi involvement in Yemen has opened many fronts not only for its own self but for its well-wishers as well. After getting support from the Arab League Saudis are cajoling Pakistan to fall in line and get trapped in Arab Augean stable.
First appeared in the Linkedin on April 6, 2015