Pakistan and Yemen-Saudi Conflict

Pakistan and Yemen-Saudi Conflict

The current situation in the Gulf region has evoked hot debate in Pakistan. Many analysts believe that this is not Pakistan's war and should not jump to it as Pakistanis are already facing consequences of Afghan proxy war. Defense Minister of Pakistan Khawaja Asif recently stated that Pakistan supports Saudi border integrity, but will not take part in a conflict that divides Muslim Ummah. The defense minister's statement comes a day after Saudi Arabia said that Pakistan will join its operation against Iran-backed Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen, for a conflict that is rapidly accelerating into a threatening civil war. The minister's announcement today, apparently prevents Pakistan's immediate participation in the Yemen conflict . Though Pakistan's current government has deep and very cordial relations with Saudi Arabia, but yet this move of peaceful settlement of conflict between Yemen and Saudi Arabia is being appreciated by both critics and supporters within the country.
Why Pakistan should refrain from joining the Gulf proxy war while Saudi Arabia is a close ally and enjoys brotherly relations with Pakistan? There are several reasons, first, Pakistan is already suffering from terrorism and sectarian base war within country and Shia community distrust government's close ties with Saudi Arabia and believes the latter to fund madrassas, which in turn fuels sectarianism in country . During the war against Taliban in Afghanistan after 9/11 both Iran and Pakistan experienced misunderstandings on sectarian base resulting tense relations between Islamabad and Tehran. If Pakistan chooses to send her troops to Yemen against Houthi rebellion group then it may evoke once again distrust ties between Iran and Pakistan. Moreover, Shia community in Pakistan will never accept Shia based Houthi group to be killed by Pakistani troops. In the result, it will bring strong opposition from the Shia community against the Pakistani government and distrust may grow stronger resulting collapse between Shia and Sunni sects. Second, Pakistan has cordial relations with the other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and attaches great importance to their security. Pakistan is not ready to make enemies because in order to eradicate current challenges in a country requires positive image and support at International level. Economically, Pakistan is vulnerable and most of her energy projects are depending on the debt. Participating in the Gulf war in feeble economic condition will weak more than 1965 war. Third, Pakistan is fighting against terrorists on her own land,  Zarab-e-Azab Operation, one of the biggest threat to the country's sovereignty and integrity. Similarly, troops on LOC and other borders securing the country from rogue terrorists invasion and insurgency in Balochistan and Kashmir; two lands which are under Army's supervision, are the reasons which can refrain Pakistan from invading in Yemen on call of Saudi Arabia. Fourth, about 5000 Pakistanis are living in Yemen , if Pakistan decides to go against the Houthis rebellion group then Pakistani government will put the lives of her overseas citizens in danger. Though the government has asked her citizen to evacuate Yemen but there is more need to provide them security as the situation is worst and any kind of mishap can occur during the current anarchical situation. Fifth, participating in Yemen-Saudi war will drag the Houthis rebellion group in Pakistan and terror threat will be higher than now. Pakistan is facing TTP and separatist movements and struggling to sort out these problems to bring peace back to the state. Making one more enemy in the presence of bully terror groups would be foolish. Forces of Pakistan are engaged in different operations, focusing on clearing the land from terrorists, but if she decides to fight Saudi war then Houthis group may go to harm Pakistan and can join hands with other terrorist groups.
Yemen is bordered by the Saudi Arabia to the North and it is more important for Saudi Arabia than Pakistan to stop the Shia Houthi rebel group. It has been trending at the international arena to support allies in time of trouble and to provide aids to secure both her ally and own interests. The same strategy is being used during the Saudi-Yemen conflict by Pakistan. The Shia insurgency in Yemen started in 2004 when a revolutionary cleric Hussain Badreddin Al-Houthi, head of the Zaidi Shia sect initiated movement against the yemen government. Soon Hussain Badreddin was assassinated but his movement remained popular. After 2004 many suicide attacks killed innocent and civilian people. In 2007 and 2008 series of bomb attacks killed police, diplomats, foreign investors and tourists. In 2009, Yemen's officials attacked Shia insurgents assisted by Saudi forces, but in February 2010 a new ceasefire agreed between Yemen's government and Shia Zaidi rebel group. In December 2009 military of US carried out a series of drone attacks to contain the growing terror threat with the help of CIA. In September 2011 two US citizens, Anwar-al-Awlaki and Samir Khan, were killed in drone attacks, the former was the first US citizen to be targeted and killed in US drone attacks. Both were the active member of "Al-Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula" and were taken as the greatest threat to peace in Yemen and Islamic expansionism.  In 2011 Yemen revolution ousted Saleh and bringing new president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi on February 2012. Due to the central government's weaknesses separatists and Shia rebellion forced Hadi to agree a "Unity government". In January 2015 the Houthis forced government ministers to resign and placed Hadi under house arrest. The following month rebellion group dissolved parliament and declared a "Revolutionary Committee". On 21 February, Hadi succeeded to flee from Sana'a to Aden, his hometown and declared Aden temporary capital of Yemen. On 26 March, Saudi Arabia launched an air strike operation named al-Hazm Storms and announced to lead a military coalition against the Houthis (Shia Zaidi), whom Riyadh claimed funded by Iran.
Saudi Arabia and Iran both countries have very tense ties with each other on sectarian grounds from the very beginning. Saudi Arabia represents the majority of the Sunni sect while Iran is representative of Shia sect of Muslims in the world. Riyadh and Tehran are openly engaged in the sectarian war against each other while Pakistan's foreign policy is different towards both states. Pakistan has good relations with Iran but enjoys more cordial relations with Saudi Arabia yet she can't engage in war which can pose the threat to her strategic plans. If Pakistan chooses to fight Gulf proxy war, then India will get golden opportunity to  improve her relations with Iran in absence of Pakistan and certainly Islamabad could not afford it as Tehran is already enjoying cordial relations with Delhi and in result insurgency in Tribal and Balochistan area is growing. Pakistan should act as negotiator between Yemen and Saudi Arabia instead of standing and supporting only one state. This war is indirect between Iran and Saudi Arabia and that is why several anti-Iran states have supported Saudi's air strikes against the Houthis and have assured their support. But in case of Pakistan, the present situation is more complicated and requires more cautious steps for the sake of national interests.
Conclusion:
Pakistan has good relations with both Iran and Saudi Arabia and must try to maintain it by playing the role of negotiator. Pakistan can face several problems after taking part in the Gulf proxy war. These problems will play a strong role in weakening Pakistan's economy and posing the threat to Pakistani overseas in Yemen. The Houthis rebellion can join hands with TTP for escalating terror attacks within the country. Moreover, Pakistan will lose Iran's trust and in result India can fill the gap which will be a biggest strategic failure from the Pakistan side. Yemen-Saudi conflict is the problem of whole Ummah and it must be resolved through negotiations and Pakistan should play the role of mediator in resolving this issue.