Pakistan’s parliament has
unanimously passed a resolution expressing its ‘desire that Pakistan should
maintain neutrality in the Yemen conflict.’ While the resolution also reaffirms
Pakistan’s ‘unequivocal support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,’ this desire
for neutrality indicates that the country will not be joining the Saudi-led
military coalition that is currently fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen. The
parliamentary resolution is not binding on the executive branch of government,
meaning that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could still decide to take part in the
coalition. But the fact that it was passed unanimously and that large parts of
the resolution were proposed by senior cabinet member Dar, who is a member of
the ruling PML-N party, suggests that it is highly unlikely the government will
defy it.
Members of both houses of parliament
began debating involvement in Yemen on Monday, since when many Pakistani
politicians and lawmakers have spoken out against joining the coalition. The
request put forward by Saudi Arabia placed Pakistan in a difficult position. On
the one hand, Pakistan is a longstanding ally to Saudi Arabia and they share
strong economic, military and religious ties. On the other hand, it shares a
border with Iran, a country allegedly providing assistance to the Houthi rebels
that Saudi Arabia is trying to defeat. Agreeing to provide military troops and
equipment to the Saudi-led coalition could therefore possibly sour relations
between Pakistan its neighbour.
Getting involved could possibly also
inflame sectarian tensions domestically. Last Friday, anti-Shia armed groups in
Pakistan – including those behind numerous incidents of anti-Shia violence in
recent years – took to the streets to express their support for the Saudis and their
detestation of Iranian influence. If the Pakistani government were to join Sunni
Saudi Arabia, or indeed Shia Iran, that could serve to induce more protests and
even sectarian violence. Pakistan has a Sunni majority but the Shia minority makes
up around one-fifth of the population, making Pakistan the largest home to
Shias outside Iran. Pakistan is therefore afraid of being caught in the middle
of two actors that are on the verge of an all-out proxy war on Yemeni
soil.
Deciding against joining the Saudi-led
military coalition was a smart move. Not only could it complicate things at
home, but also abroad. While Pakistan still remains an ally to Saudi Arabia, the
decision to remain neutral in the Yemen conflict suggests that the country is still
capable of making tough decisions that it perceives to be in its best interest.