most civilian and military leaderships.
Since the beginning of the clash over Yemen, several meetings have been presided over by the prime minister on the conflict. All of them were attended by the top brass of the armed forces. Before the defence minister had made his first policy statement in the National Assembly, a similar session was held in which the strategy, which has been adhered all along, was firmed up. There has been no deviation from it. When the UN Security Council passed a resolution on Yemen, Pakistan announced to follow it.
Instead of taking a knee-jerk decision on the Saudi demand for allocation of troops, naval ships and jet fighters, Pakistan mulled over it cool-mindedly involving all the key stakeholders. It then came out with a well-thought out strategy keeping in view Pakistan’s supreme national interests and did not jump in the war zone. It was of course a difficult phase in Pak-Saudi ties, but Islamabad made every effort to tide over it and successfully checked any possible downslide.
In dictatorial rules, national policies on matters of such paramount importance were quickly decided by a coterie without any consultations, even on a single telephone call. This plunged Pakistan into an abyss, entailing colossal loss in men and material.
It is certainly satisfying and reassuring for Pakistan that it stands vindicated as Saudi Arabia has also declared a policy that Islamabad had devised. Riyadh has announced an end to four weeks of air strikes in Yemen saying that the threat of Iran-backed rebels there had been removed and that operations were entering a political phase. The next step would aim to resume the political process in Yemen, delivering aid and fighting terrorism there.
Initially, Pakistan’s policy caused much angst and frustration in Arab circles. Particularly, the April 10 resolution of the Parliament hugely irked the Gulf countries, which are part of the Saudi-led coalition. However, some of its provisions, emphasising peaceful resolution of the conflict, have been proven correct with the Saudi announcement.
The resolution had called upon the warring factions in Yemen to resolve their differences peacefully through dialogue; supported regional and international efforts for restoration of peace and stability in Yemen; underscored the need for continued efforts by the government of Pakistan to find a peaceful resolution while promoting the unity of Muslim Ummah in cooperation with the leaders of other Muslim countries; and urged the Muslim Ummah and the international community to intensify their efforts to promote peace in Yemen.
Several Arab quarters had also deeply resented the combined efforts of Pakistan and Turkey for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Islamabad and Ankara wanted that the Muslim world did not plunge in another serious crisis that damages its unity.
Pakistan promptly welcomed Saudi declaration of ending air strikes and said this will pave the way for a political solution to the crisis. “Pakistan shares the desire of Saudi Arabia for a peaceful settlement of the Yemeni crisis.”