
Syed Javed Hussain
So much has already been written on this and still it does not seem superfluous to write on it. Saudi involvement in Yemen has opened many fronts not only for its own self but for its well-wishers as well. After Arab League's fun do vendetta Pakistan, having a strong and well prepared army, is being cajoled to fall in line and get trapped in Arab Augean stable.
More than providing answers to valid questions Pakistan establishment is using clichés; ruse to hoodwink its people. Prime Minister 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.”
A delegation comprising Pakistan's defense minister Khawaja Asif and foreign affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz was in Saudi Arab the same day 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. 
Saudi Arabia with arsenal worth billions of dollars under its belt is not in danger at all. It has never been since 1981 at least when it opted out to the pro-Israeli lobby in the West for ulterior motives.
The motives have come in the fore now. The overriding concern of the house of Saud is its own perpetuation. Exploitation of religious sentiments come as a handy tool; quiet effectively used as well.
Iran is no more threat to Saudi Arabia than Europe is to Israel. Iran has never been a threat to Saudi Arabia, however, it has always expressed its displeasure over House of Saud's injustices, coercion and exploitation of its Shia minority. Whereas, legally, morally and humanly there should not be any problem in highlighting the plights of the oppressed, Saudi Arab, instead of correcting its policies, has always found it unpalatable. Hence, Iran is marked as an unfriendly country.
At home 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; 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.
Otherwise, since 1979 Iranian revolution other than providing moral, diplomat and legal support to the oppressed and downtrodden communities abroad it has never been proved that Iran has ever interfered in the internal affairs of other countries. Its demands from the Saudi government regarding the human rights violations are not out of the extraordinary; legally, morally and humanly all nation states are beholden to take care and side with the downtrodden.
Saudi Arab, on the other hand, contrary to what should have been its role as a leading Islamic nation, has pursued aggressive policies to promote, expand and aggrandise its influence in the lands of Islam through the promotion of Wahabism, a cultic vision of Islam.
House of Saud has a long history of aggressive diplomatic, political, military and religious pursuits in the lands of Islam. They were never directed towards so called Israeli/Western nuisances but towards the other Islamic nations they considered as apostates.
To camouflage its real intentions and to hoodwink the masses House of Saud assumed the title of "Custodian of the two Holly Mosques" but continued with its aggressive policies towards other nations.
In 1981 Israel attacked Iraq and completely destroyed its nuclear reactor. Israeli planes flew from Israel and used Saudi airspace. Saudis detected them but let them go hassle free, nor they informed the Iraqis of the impending danger.
In 1991, instead of playing any responsible mediatory role it joined America in attacking Iraq in Kuwait war and provided air bases, land routes and necessary logistic support to America to kill Muslims. Earlier in eight year internecine war between Iraq and Iran Saudi role had been extremely negative; rather it spearheaded the club of Saddam's supporters and provided huge military support to Saddam to continue with the war.
In the Gulf War of 1998 American planes again flew from Saudi Arab and killed Iraqis in thousands.
After September 11, 2001 America attacked Afghanistan from Saudi Arabia and its active support remained available to the U.S until recently. In 2003 yet again America attacked Iraq and found Saudi Arab as its chief supporter providing airfields and lad routes.
In 2009 America started drone attacks in Yemen. Saudi Arab provided complete logistical support and its drones flew from inside the kingdom. Along with the Al-Qaida related extremists such attacks killed so many innocent people.
The story does not end here. In 2010 engulfed by its enmity against Iran Saudi Arabia reportedly permitted Israel to use its airspace to attack Iran. And since 2013, Saudi Arabia is fully supporting anti Assad regime forces in Syria and spilling the blood of innocent people there. Since beginning it is cajoling the U.S. to attack Syria to affect bloody and violent regime change in a sisterly Islamic country.
If we consider what's been going on in Pakistan for decades our respectable Custodian of the two Holly Mosques' has a lion's share in spilling the innocent blood of thousands of 'servants of Islam.'
Information
More than providing answers to valid questions Pakistan establishment is using clichés; ruse to hoodwink its people. Prime Minister 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.”
Published on April 2, 2015

Aggression in the name of Islam

