Taking a major decision, the army Feb 16 announced that it is deploying troops in Saudi Arabia under an existing bilateral security pact. “In continuation of ongoing Pak-KSA bilateral security cooperation, a Pakistan Army contingent is being sent to KSA on training and advice mission,” the Inter-Services Public Relations announced after a meeting between Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa and Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Saeed Al-Maliki at the General Headquarters, which was said to be about “regional security situation”.
Parliamentarian expressed concerns over the sudden announcement of sending fresh and unspecified contingent of troops to Saudi Arabia. In 2015 when Saudi Arabia requested Pakistan to send its troops to take part in the Yemen war, Parliament took a decisive and courageous decision to stay neutral on the Yemen issue. Pakistani parliament passed a joint resolution that emphasised not to be involved in a regional conflict and maintain neutrality in the Yemen conflict. It was decided that Pakistan would send it troops only if the territorial sovereignty of Saudi Arabia or the holy sites in that country come under attack.
The defence minister has been summoned by the Senate to explain why Pakistani troops are being sent to Saudi Arabia and on what terms. The Senate was informed on Monday that Pakistani troops being dispatched to Saudi Arabia are only meant for imparting training to Saudi security personnel instead of entangling in Yemen war. Giving a policy statement in the House, Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir said that currently around sixteen hundred Pakistani troops are on deputation in Saudi Arabia. Khurram Dastgir said that the planned training and advisory contingent has yet not been dispatched to Saudi Arabia. He said that the contingent will have strength of over one thousand troops of all ranks and will be dispatched shortly.
Concerns of Parliament should always be addressed before making such announcements that contain the potential to spread misinformation. It is positive development that Parliamentarians were briefed that sending troops to Saudi Arabia is not linked with Yemen conflict. Then there was no harm in initiating an open debate in the Parliament. There is no second opinion that Pakistan’s ties with Saudi Arabia are very vital, but necessarily interests of latter may not always align with former’s. Parliament has taken a decision and it must be respected and debate should be initiated in Parliament before taking vital decision.
