Conflict in Yemen

The most important foreign policy issue today is Pakistan’s stance in the Yemeni conflict which is likely to escalate if restraint is not shown by all parties to the conflict. The situation has to be handled carefully keeping in view our strategic and geopolitical interests as well as the sectarian divide within our country. Under the circumstances the best course will be to remain neutral and use our good offices and friendly influence to bring about a diplomatic solution of the issue.
In any case we have too many problems at home and too much at stake to divert the attention of our armed forces to an issue which is essentially an internal matter of Yemen and must be resolved peacefully with the moral and diplomatic pressure by coalition partners under the aegis of the UN. The military action will only expand the conflict and further sharpen the secretion divide in the Muslim world.
Zaheer Ahmed
Islamabad