Pakistan Urged to Avoid Ground Troops in Yemen Conflict Amidst Saudi-Led Defense Alliance
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Pakistani officials and military leaders met with their Saudi and Turkish counterparts in Riyadh to discuss future strategies, as reported by Dawn newspaper and published by Mehr News Agency. While specific details of the meeting remain undisclosed, the three defense allies have agreed to expedite troop deployments within Saudi Arabia, adhering to the national laws of each member state. The members of the Mecca defense coalition also condemned recent attacks against Saudi Arabia.
From Pakistan’s perspective, these developments are hoped to signify a commitment to defending Saudi Arabia against external aggression. However, the intervention of Pakistan, Turkey, or any other foreign actor in the war against Yemen would be deemed an ill-advised step. Pakistan has maintained decades-long defense ties with Saudi Arabia, and the new agreement reportedly serves to solidify these existing relationships. The defense of holy sites is a sensitive issue, and Pakistan has previously dispatched troops to protect these locations. Nevertheless, the prospect of Islamabad becoming involved in the Yemen conflict presents a distinct challenge.
In 2015, Riyadh exerted significant pressure on Pakistan to join military operations against the Houthis. However, the Pakistani parliament made a prudent decision to abstain from such involvement. Dawn suggests that similar foresight is required now, with Pakistan needing to uphold its deep-seated relations with Saudi Arabia and assist in its defense against foreign attacks while simultaneously abstaining from deploying ground forces.
The conflict in Yemen has intensified, with the prospect of a ceasefire appearing distant under current circumstances. The war has been ongoing since 2015, and previous external attacks, including those by the United States and the Zionist regime, have failed to dislodge the Houthis and Yemeni fighters from the battlefield.
Dawn cautioned that an end to the hostilities is urgently needed to prevent a new humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen and to avert the wider spread of the conflict across the region. Countries like Oman, which maintain channels of communication with both Yemen and Saudi Arabia, could play a crucial role as mediators in this regard.
