Pakistani Parliament declares neutrality on Yemen, calls for peace talks.

[ArsalanKhan21]

Pakistan has helped Saudi Arabia against Yemeni rebels in 1969. PAF sent pilots to fly RSAF fighter jets and conducted air strikes on Yemeni rebels making incursions into Saudi Arabia. Pakistan has done a lot for Saudi Arabia.

In 1969, Houthis were the allies of Saudis and now they are the enemy. Same when Saudi bankrolled Saddam to attack Iran for 10 year war that killed millions of people. Then Saddam became an enemy when he attacked Kuwait.

 

[A1Kaid]

Pakistani parliament after multiple sessions over the last week has declared neutrality on Yemen. Affirmed support to territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia (official red line), calls for peace talks, offers to broker them with Turkey. Pakistan also asked Iran to withdraw support from Huthis, so did Turkey.

For the first time Pakistan is emerging like a mature state.

Pakistan parliament backs neutrality in Yemen conflict - Al Jazeera English

You can thank PM Nawaz Sharif and his party in Parliament for this wise decision. Already this government is taking Pakistan forward in terms of economy and geopolitics. This is one of the best governments we've had in a long time in Islamabad. It may not be perfect, but it is a government Pakistanis can be proud of.

 

[I.R.A]

You can thank PM Nawaz Sharif and his party in Parliament for this wise decision. Already this government is taking Pakistan forward in terms of economy and geopolitics. This is one of the best governments we've had in a long time in Islamabad. It may not be perfect, but it is a government Pakistanis can be proud of.

For how long we will stay neutral? Do you see an end to this conflict on discussion table?

And without Pakistan and Turkey can they crush it militarily?

 

[Serpentine]

I would love to see the look on your face when you loose he war in Yemen. Just like your mullahs had to apologize to the Saudis for the Makkah riots in the '80s. Oh I forgot that is a part of history you don't want to talk about!!!

You can sit here, and howl and cry all you want, ground realities will insult you AGAIN!!!!

Keep avoiding my questions by those useless rants.
Iran is not in Yemen, so we have nothing to lose in there. The only losers of Yemen conflict are Yemeni civilians and Saudis (along with other banana states in the coalition).

 

[Indus Falcon]

Keep avoiding my questions by those useless rants.
Iran is not in Yemen, so we have nothing to lose in there. The only losers of Yemen conflict are Yemeni civilians and Saudis (along with other banana states in the coalition).

You have yet to post a single pertinent question. Ramblings and rantings are NOT considered questions!!

 

[Daneshmand]

Wise decision by Pakistan. It was not an easy decision but congrats to Pakistan for doing the right thing. Very honorable.

 

[Asian.Century]

Pakistani Lawmakers Pass Resolution Urging Neutrality in Yemen Conflict

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Pakistani Parliament voted on Friday to stay out of the conflict in Yemen, but it urged the government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to play a diplomatic role in defusing the crisis.

Analysts in the Arab world saw the decision as a significant setback for Saudi Arabia, which is leading a campaign of airstrikes against the Iranian-backed Houthi movement in Yemen. Saudi Arabia, a major donor to Pakistan, had incorrectly advertised Pakistani participation in the campaign from the night it began more than two weeks ago.

While declining a military role, the lawmakers vowed to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Saudi Arabia, a long-term Sunni ally that had requested aircraft, warships and troops. The lawmakers also pledged to defend Saudi Arabia if its “territorial sovereignty and integrity” is violated.

Saudi Arabia has accused Iran, the region’s most influential Shiite country, of providing military aid to the Houthi movement, whose leaders follow a variant of Shiite Islam, and leaders in Tehran condemned the Saudi air campaign on Thursday. Most experts say that Iran supports the Houthis but that it does not control them.

The parliamentary measure, which was passed with unanimous support, followed four days of lively debate in a joint session of Pakistan’s Senate and National Assembly.

Critics of military action warned that Pakistan risked getting sucked into a broader sectarian conflict in the region, particularly at a time of growing violence against Shiites at home.

Pakistan is a predominantly Sunni country, but it has an influential Shiite population that is estimated to be about 20 percent of the population.

The Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, visited Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, this week and urged Pakistan to press for a cease-fire in Yemen.

Mr. Sharif’s government has close ties to Saudi Arabia, which gave Pakistan $1.5 billion in aid last year. Mr. Sharif also lived in the Saudi city of Jidda in the early 2000s, when he went into exile to escape the military rule of Pervez Musharraf.

The parliamentary resolution on Friday appeared to largely align with the Iranian wishes. “Pakistan should maintain neutrality in the Yemen conflict so as to be able to play a proactive diplomatic role to end the crisis,” read the resolution, which had been presented by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

Lawmakers said they supported “regional and international efforts for restoration of peace and stability in the region.”

Still, the pledge to stand with Saudi Arabia and to defend its sovereignty was seen as leaving open a door to possible military action if the situation in Yemen were to worsen.

Citing sources close to Mr. Sharif, some Pakistani news outlets reported on Friday that the Pakistani prime minister had privately warned Mr. Zarif, his Iranian counterpart, against supporting the Houthis.

In a statement on Thursday, Mr. Sharif said he had used the meeting to express concern about the Yemeni government being overthrown by “nonstate actors.”

“Beside the loss of innocent lives, the crisis can undermine the unity of Muslim world,” Mr. Sharif said in the statement.

Separately, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations Children’s Fund said that a first airlift of medical supplies arrived on Friday at the international airport in Sana, the capital of Yemen, and that the supplies would be distributed to hospitals across the country. The Red Cross said the shipment included 16 tons of medicine, bandages, intravenous fluids and surgical equipment.

Declan Walsh contributed reporting from London.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/11/world/asia/pakistan-yemen-iran.html

 

[ArsalanKhan21]

Wise decision by Pakistan. It was not an easy decision but congrats to Pakistan for doing the right thing. Very honorable.

We did what we think is the right decision. While Iran continues to have Indian consulate in Zahidan close to Pakistan border sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan. When will Iran also do the right thing ?

 

[Daneshmand]

What is really sad and hurtful is, Arabs and Saudis calling Pakistan's parliament to be Shia dominated, Shia going to eat all of Pakistan and Middle east, Shias per say are not Muslims, Iran is the most evil country for Pakistan....and media of Pakistan dominated by shia's etc etc n Saudi Arabia will kick out all Pakistanis, it will block all money and business with Pakistan....this is really sad to see, how much self-interested & selfish Saudis and Arabs are..n there exporting wahabis ideology in Pakistan etc.

Pakistanis are brave, independent, intelligent and highly revengeful people, we might be low in some areas, but thats it. We can survive successfully as we have been fighting all alone for past 15 years against talibanis, US-India-Israel evil nexus....TTPs, Kashmir issue, proxy wars etc etc.

Well Done Pakistanis for once.!!!

I agree with your sentiments. But I do not agree with the bold part. No such thing will happen. Look at it from the geopolitical view point. KSA is not a super-power and not an independent nation that can go on and do whatever it wants. The main point here to remember, is this: Saudis are angry that Iran with a deal will become a nuclear threshold country and without a deal will become a nuclear armed country.

In either case, Saudis position suffers both in geopolitical terms as well as on Arab street because Saudis have so much invested their identity as an anti-Shia and anti-Iran entity aligned and allied with US. The reason the nuclear issue is so important is not because Iran and KSA are going to war someday. Not at all. It is because of Israel which has the same technology. The Arab streets, look at the situation and see Arab countries to be weak and vulnerable while Iran and Pakistan are not. It is a kind of a geopolitical competition on Arab street for respect and strength.

In such a situation, Pakistan is indispensable for Saudis. No matter how many times, Pakistan rejects Saudis and how much money Pakistan squeezes out of Saudi Arabia. The reason is very simple. No one will provide Saudis with nuclear technology of the kind that matters in geopolitical calculations. They have only Pakistan to show to Arab street as a counter balance to Israel. They can not do the same with Iran since that would be seen as an ideological suicide by accepting Shias as Muslims and part of Ummah.

That is why, until and unless Saudis do not have nuclear technology, and until you do not give them this tech, they will continue to respect and listen to Pakistan, no matter how Pakistan treats them. This is their Achilles heel. Pakistani strategists know this and will use this knowledge to maximum extent possible. Until the day, Saudis develop nuclear technology (which is in all probability is either never or atleast not in this century), Pakistan will remain like a demigod for them. Too holy to insult.

In another dimension of reality, oil also will run out someday. Future is nuclear. And KSA will need Pakistan if they do not want to go back 12 centuries, living in darkness.

 

[Zarvan]

Pakistan has sent military advisers and equipment to KSA. Also Pakistani troops have a small permanent garrison in KSA to protect the royal family.

The decision to remain neutral is a wise one, it's done great things for Switzerland, it can surely help Pakistan. I understand the need to return favors, however Pakistan has said unless Saudi Arabia is invaded on its own soil then Pakistan will remain neutral.

They are conducting air strikes against rebels not a formidable organized army, so calm down.

We are providing more than that and more will go soon

 

[Indus Falcon]

We did what we think is the right decision. While Iran continues to have Indian consulate in Zahidan close to Pakistan border sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan. When will Iran also do the right thing ?

Very good question

 

[Daneshmand]

We did what we think is the right decision. While Iran continues to have Indian consulate in Zahidan close to Pakistan border sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan. When will Iran also do the right thing ?

No such thing. There is not even a shred of evidence of Iran being involved in any violent act in Pakistan. You have to only look at who your military is fighting. They are not Iranians, they are not Shia. They are a bunch of Takfiris whose ideology, you very well know where comes from. The number one security challenge that Pakistan is facing is not Iran. It is an ideological brand exported from Saudi Arabia. And you know where your Baluch separatists live. They do not live in Zahedan. They live in Dubai and Switzerland.

 

[Indus Falcon]

No such thing. There is not even a shred of evidence of Iran being involved in any violent act in Pakistan. You have to only look at who your military is fighting. They are not Iranians, they are not Shia. They are a bunch of Takfiris whose ideology, you very well know where comes from. The number one security challenge that Pakistan is facing is not Iran. It is an ideological brand exported from Saudi Arabia. And you know where your Baluch separatists live. They do not live in Zahedan. They live in Dubai and Switzerland.

Good joke!! Go ahead and deny the Makkah riots in '87 while you are at it!!

 

[Daneshmand]

Good joke!! Go ahead and deny the Makkah riots in '87 while you are at it!!

Yes, you can tell this joke to families, mothers, fathers, sons, brothers and daughters of those Pakistani soldiers who have to fight these Takfiris and whose heads are used as a ball in Takfiri football tournaments.

Quite pathetic.

At least if you can not see and accept the reality, the least you can do is support you military who are fighting Takfiris and not Shias or Iranians.

 

[ArsalanKhan21]

No such thing. They do not live in Zahedan.

We are talking about Indian consulate in Zahidan nearly 25 miles from border sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan. There was never a Saudi, UAE or USA consulate 25 miles from Iranian border. Zahidan is not even top ten largest city in Iran but only a strategic important city due to Pakistan border.