ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabias request for military assistance from Pakistan to fend off a likely incursion from the expanding forces of the Islamic State militants gaining strength in neighbouring Iraq and Syria has reportedly put Pakistan in a fix as it ponders a suitable response. Occupied with fighting a host of its own ghosts at home and in its immediate neighbourhood, Pakistan is reportedly not too keen to offer help, in the same way that it withdrew from participating in an international coalition against the IS.
Pakistan now finds itself drawn into foreign conflicts in its struggle to balance its geo-political priorities at home and abroad. Pakistan which has been a traditional ally of Saudi Arabia, is tied to the country even closer by the personal relationship shared by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with the royal family in the Kingdom. During Sharifs recent visit to Saudi Arabia, he was reportedly accorded an unprecedented welcome by the newly crowned King Salman bin Abdulaziz. The Saudi monarch who had extended a special invitation to the Pakistani PM is reported to be looking forward to receiving help from his closest allies, including Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan, to boost security at the Saudi border to ward off the IS threat.
Pakistani media reports suggest Riyadh wants Islamabad to send troops to help it in the fight against IS. Those in the know are cited as saying that in return, the new Saudi monarch has offered Islamabad an economic package, which includes supply of oil on deferred payment. So far, however, Prime Minister Sharif has reportedly not given Saudi Arabia any firm assurance over the request. The government is cautious about getting embroiled in any new controversy which could have far-reaching implications for Pakistan.
Its Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry recently informed the Senate panel on foreign affairs that Pakistan would not become part of any international coalition against IS. It [Pakistan] should only support multilateral action against IS under the UN Security Council resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the FS told the committee.
The policy appears to suggest that Pakistan intends to tread carefully over the IS issue. The cautious approach is attributed to the fact that joining the fight against IS would create more trouble for Pakistan, which is already preoccupied with fighting its own war against several militant groups.
Another factor being cited in Pakistani media is the equation with Iran, because of which the current government, despite having close ties with the Saudi royal family, apparently does not want to be seen to be too aligned with Saudi Arabia.
Given the challenges it faces, Pakistan has also kept a safe distance from the international coalition against the IS. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries as well as the United States formed a coalition last September against the IS militant group. But Pakistan stayed away fearing a negative fallout. It is not clear whether the offer made by the new Saudi king will prove too hard for Pakistan to resist this time around. –EJ