Both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the army chief Raheel Sharif have assured the Saudi foreign minister that they would support Saudi Arabia, all the coalition members which are 34, and their efforts in Yemen and their stance in Iran issue. The visiting Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmad Al-Jubeir has told Pakistan clearly that it has to decide whether they are with Arab world or not. They have told Pakistan now is the time to prove the friendship and the brotherly relationship. Pakistan who heavily depends upon KSA in defense, economy and religion had no option but to say yes.
This ends a long speculation and in retrospect it’s a good decision. Iran is a problem for the world and we can never trust it. Iran is also creating problems for Pakistan in Balochistan and in Afghanistan and also is against Gwadar. It is also providing port of Chabahar to India and a corridor to Afghanistan despite of Pakistan’s reservations. Pakistan should support Saudi coalition whole-heartedly and should reap benefits in terms of more jobs for Pakistanis, oil and other perks. It should be two way street. We must not do it just for the sake of it. We must get something in return. That is what will be called a fair deal. Pakistan will be providing assistance to Saudi Arabia in terms of field of training, intelligence-sharing, capacity building and developing a counter narrative.