Conflict blowback

The government has decided to defend Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity. This suggests that Pakistan’s help to Saudi Arabia would be available in a defensive capacity. One hopes this does not mean Pakistan’s becoming a party to the conflict. Pakistan, facing an existential war at home, should be extremely wary of committing itself to a conflict that has strong sectarian undercurrents. Iran, Pakistan’s geographical neighbour, has already condemned the Saudi air raids in Yemen.
Pakistan should be cognisant of the effects of intervening in foreign conflicts because we are still facing the blowback of the Afghan conflict. As the Pakistan Army is heavily deployed in Fata and other areas one wonders whether it would be wise and if at all possible to send our troops overseas when they are needed more at home.
Akbar Jan Marwat
Islamabad