Pakistan parliament's no to military involvement in Yemen no surprise, analyst

Pakistan's parliament on Friday voted to stay out of the conflict in Yemen, rejecting Saudi demands for Islamabad to join its military coalition against Zaydi Shia Houthi rebels. MPs feel Pakistan already has enough security concerns of its own, analysts told RFI.

A Saudi border guard near the Yemen border AFP

In a special session Pakistan's parliament voted to support the government's commitment to protect Saudi Arabia's territory but that has so far not been threatened by the conflict.

The outcome of the vote after five days of intense discussions did not come as a surprise, according to Imtiaz Gul, the director Centre of Research and Security Studies in Islamabad.

“Ever since the debate began in the parliament on whether Pakistan should become a direct partner in this coalition against Yemeni militia, it became abundantly clear every passing day, that the dominant majority of Pakistan did not want Pakistan to be sucked into yet another conflict, the kind of conflict that Pakistan has been part of and which has resulted in disastrous, social-political consequences for the country," he told RFI.

Saudi Arabia is a major investor in Pakistan and professor Mahjoob Zweiri of Qatar University says that although the relationship between the two countries remains warm, it may now mean that Pakistan is going to lose some of its influence in the Middle East.

“Saudi Arabia and other allied countries expect more from Pakistan," he said. "They expect at least some logistic and intelligence support. This may have a political impact and it may indicate that Pakistan will be out of the loop.”

Imtiaz Gul points out that Pakistan’s regional standing remains strong, mentioning ties with China and recent visits of high officials from Turkey and Iran.

Apart from strong economic links, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have a strong religious bond, as both countries have a majority Sunni-Muslim population.

According to Wikileak cables published in 2008, Saudi Arabia is also a massive funder of Madrassas - the religious schools that, among other things, were the cradle of the Taliban - across Pakistan..

Even the Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islam voted in favour of the resolution to stay out of the Yemen conflict.

The resolution shows that decisions can be made by parliament and not imposed by a dictator, says Abdul Ghaffar Aziz, the head of the international department of the party;.

However, he does not exclude some strain in relations with Riyadh.

“We may have some criticism from our friends and from our brothers. But the resolution also mentions that if there is any threat for Saudi Arabia territory or for its peace, we stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers in Saudi Arabia.”

Regarding the conflict in Yemen, Aziz thinks that direct participation by Pakistan’s forces would be “beyond the limits” of the country’s army.

Meanwhile, in Yemen Red Cross and UN planes started flying medical aid into Sana’a and in the southern port city of Aden, fighting is reported to be continuing.

Eyewitnesses say that Saudi military planes are now targeting the stores of markets and large supermarkets, where Houthis are suspected to have hidden provisions.

“They think by doing this they will put Huti’s in difficulty, depriving them from food," says Samia al-Hadad, a civil rights activist in Sana’a. "But, of course, the first who are sacrificed by this are the people, the civilians."