Yemen confusion

The United Nations Security Council resolution on the Yemen crisis has allowed the Pakistan government a way of saving face in front of its Middle Eastern allies. Faced with criticism at home, followed up by a joint resolution in the National Assembly advising that Pakistan stay out of the military aspects of the Yemen conflict, the UNSC resolution that imposed an arms embargo on the Houthis and suggested international mediation has allowed a way back for the PML-N government. The delegation to Saudi Arabia led by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif returned on Friday to confirm that Pakistan had assured the Saudis that it would help implement the UNSC resolution on Yemen. Sharif’s briefing was attended by PML-N higher ups and the army high command. Shahbaz claimed that Saudi authorities had told him that the confusion over Pakistan’s cooperation in the Yemen crisis had ‘become history’. The irony is that the confusion in the perception of the Pakistani public has remained. What exactly is the PML-N leadership doing in Saudi Arabia if it will not send troops to fight the Yemen war? Sharif explained that the possibility of expanding Pakistan’s cooperation had been discussed. He claimed that the Saudi leadership had praised the statement of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the Yemen situation. However, he ended his briefing by saying that the issue would need a consensus-based political solution.
No matter how much the PML-N insists, the party appears to be confused over what to do. Joining the Yemen war is clearly perceived as an unpopular choice by the Pakistani people, who already face many crises at home. The chaotic response is exacerbated by the fact that the PML-N has yet to have appointed a foreign minister. Each time, a new member of the PML-N high command is sent to a foreign country and returns to give a different briefing. Sartaj Aziz, Khawaja Asif, Shahbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif have all gone to the Middle East on separate visits. Next week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been invited to see the Saudi king again. What is clear is that the UNSC resolution is being interpreted as a way of allowing Pakistan a role into the Yemen crisis. A role for the navy is being considered. The government also issued a statement claiming the Houthis had ‘foreign support’ which shows a shift from the earlier declaration. For now, the government appears to be taking the policy of gradually entering into the crisis – by not over committing, but ensuring that bare minimum compliance with Saudi directives is met.