Don’t send troops for Yemen war: parliamentarians to govt
* Majority of the legislators agree to support Saudi Arabia in case of any threat to its territorial integrity but are not in favour of sending troops to fight Yemeni rebels
By Ijaz Kakakhel

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentarians on third day of the joint session asked the government to avoid indulging in the Yemen crisis, advising it to work with other Muslim countries to find a peaceful settlement of the Yemen issue.

Majority of the parliamentarians agreed to support Saudi Arabia in case of any threat to its territorial integrity but didn’t support the government for sending troops to join the Saudi-led coalition forces fighting Yemeni rebels.

Speaking on the occasion, MQM’s Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi appreciated the government’s decision for calling joint session of parliament. “I must urge them that since they have called a joint session, they must listen to it, learn from it and also follow its advice,” he said. “Who has benefited from the Arab Spring except the US and Israel,” he questioned?

The senator said that Saudi Arabia was not under any threat. “KSA has a large army, adequate weapons. Then why are they asking Pakistan for help?”

Taking part in the debate, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Shireen Mazari said Pakistan Army troops should not be sent anywhere to fight other countries’ wars. “Our brave soldiers are fighting war against terrorists in our own country. They cannot become cannons for foreign wars,” she said, and added, “We fought the American’s war against the Soviets, and we are still suffering the fallout.”

She said, “This war is a coalition of the willing. Why didn’t Saudi Arabia and Gulf Cooperation Council states go to Security Council? We should in no case support this coalition of the willing,” she said. Mazari said, “Pakistan should push for a UN Peace Enforcement Force so that dialogues and negotiations could begin. Pakistan should ensure it doesn’t have to face any blow black in this war, like the previous proxy wars it has been involved in.” Senator Muzaffar Hussain Shah reiterated the importance of defending Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity. “The eyes of the nation are on the joint session,” he added. Speaking about the conflict in Yemen, the senator said that it was not a military crisis but a political one. “A political crisis must be resolved in a political manner,” Shah said.

Pakistan has regularly vowed to back Saudi Arabia if there was any threat to its territorial integrity, but has so far not committed to taking material part in the air strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Taking part in the debate, Usman Khan Kakar urged the Islamic countries and the United Nations (UN) to play constructive role in sorting out the crisis. He said that Saudi government has no threat from Houthi rebels, therefore, Pakistan should not send army to Yemen.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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