THE credit surely goes to the policy planners and strategists to maintain Pakistan’s universally accepted status as an ‘honest broker’ despite challenges thrown by the circumstances and the evolving situation. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Friday said that neutrality stemmed from honesty and that Pakistan had been clear about its position with all its partners and friends. In an interview, he said that Pakistan does not want any further escalation of the Middle East conflict and remains committed to a peaceful and negotiated resolution. He went on to say Pakistan has a stake in regional peace and stability, a reality that explains its efforts aimed at remaining an honest broker.
There was a general impression that the Gulf War placed Pakistan in an awkward position because of its historic relations with Iran and friendly ties with the United States. However, the policy pursued and maintained by the country enabled it to retain the confidence and trust of both countries and they publicly acknowledged on several occasions Pakistan’s sincere efforts towards the cherished objective of resolving the conflict through peaceful means. As highlighted by the military spokesperson, Pakistan minced no words in condemning invasion of Iran and elimination of its top leadership and also reproved Iranian attacks against neighbouring Gulf countries in response to the US and Israeli aggression against the country. It was the balanced approach that made Pakistan an acceptable mediator and the country succeeded in bringing the war to a halt and then signing of the historic Islamabad Accord, which, despite latest twist in the ground situation, is still being viewed as a sound basis for further talks not only by the global community but by the warring sides as well. Pakistan persisted with this policy of neutrality as the war was directly or indirectly expanding with Islamabad maintaining that its expansion was not in the interest of anyone. There are surely intricacies for Pakistan because of sudden activation of Houthi militia against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is because Saudi Arab is the closest ally of Pakistan and the country is bound to help bolster defence of the Kingdom in case of threats to its security and sovereignty. On the other hand, it is widely believed that Houthis were acting at the behest of Iran. It was in this backdrop that Pakistan made frantic efforts to contain the conflict in the first place and then counseled Iran to reign in Houthis. However, according to reports, the response that Pakistan got from Tehran was that it has no control over Houthis, therefore, Iran cannot complain in the event of Pakistan forced to defend the KSA as per obligations under bilateral and trilateral defence accords. Pakistan’s position on the Makkah Accord was time and again explained by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and the military spokesperson and reiterated by the Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan on Friday who said that the Makkah defence alliance between Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia was intended to defend the three countries against aggression and the allied forces would not launch attacks inside Yemen. He added that the three countries had agreed to move towards the practical implementation of their collective defence commitments under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, with the three countries approving measures to strengthen military readiness, integration and coordination. The decision includes measures to provide agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia, in accordance with approved arrangements and the national laws of the three countries. The spokesperson also categorically rejected reports that Pakistani fighter jets had been involved in cross-border operations, describing them as false. All this leads one to believe that Pakistan will not become a direct party to the expanding conflict but it will not hesitate to discharge its responsibilities and honour commitments under bilateral and trilateral arrangements with Saudi Arabia. As the US envoy at the UN Security Council pointed out that activities of the Houthis are undermining regional stability, threatening maritime negotiations and terrorizing civilians, it is collective responsibility of the world community to stem this threat effectively and immediately.
