Dubai: Former Prime Minister of Pakistan and President of Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Chaudhry Shujat Hussain has said Pakistan should provide unconditional support to the Saudi-led Storm of Resolve operation against Al Houthis in Yemen.
Criticising Pakistani parliament’s decision on staying ‘neutral’ and not sending troops to fight against Al Houthis, the veteran Pakistani politician Hussain said: “Pakistan was made a laughing stock in the world the way irresponsible debate in parliament was held and afterwards vague resolution [of not sending troops to participate in Operation Storm of Resolve] was adopted.” In a statement sent to Gulf News on Friday, Hussain said his party (PML) stance was very clear from the very beginning that Pakistan should provide unconditional support to Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries in this testing time and the UN Security Council has also endorsed this stance by approving its resolution.
Hussain, who in the past also served as Interior Minister of Pakistan twice and also as Interim Prime Minister of the country, also came down harshly on Pakistani Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for his reaction in response to the statement by the UAE State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash after the decision by Pakistan parliament.
“He (Chaudhry Nisar) should not have acted in haste in giving reaction to the statement of UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. The language and not so cautious tone he [Ch Nisar] had used in giving the reaction is against diplomatic norms. If Pakistan government has any objection to the statement of the UAE Minister of State, the response to this should have come from the Pakistan Foreign Ministry.”
“The UAE Minister’s statement should have been regarded as expression of displeasure and not threat, because Pakistan and UAE share friendly relations spreading over decades and like Saudi Arabia, the UAE has always supported Pakistan in every difficult time,” he added.
The Pakistani parliament on April 10 had unanimously voted to remain neutral in the Yemen conflict, rebuffing long-term ally Riyadh’s request for troops, warplanes and ships.
Reacting to the decision, Dr Gargash had said Pakistan parliament’s decision that stipulates “neutrality in the Yemeni conflict” and expresses “its genuine support for Saudi Arabia” is “contradictory and unexpected from Islamabad.
“Pakistan must have a clear stance for the sake of its strategic relations with Gulf states. Positions that are contradictory in such fateful issues have a high cost,” Gargash added.
Pakistani Interior Minister Ch Nisar had accused the UAE foreign affairs minister of ‘hurling threats’. He had said: “This is not only ironic but a thought-provoking moment that a minister of the UAE is hurling threats at Pakistan. The statement of the UAE minister is in stark violation of all diplomatic norms prevalent according to the principles of international relations.”
