1 Attachment(s)
Pakistan and Arab World: Security Cooperation
Events in the Yemen and the coalition response has for a moment brought the Pakistani relationship with Arab friends to the fore. It appears the coalition, in particular expect Saudi Arabia expects Pakistan to provide "boots on the ground".
Hamid Hussain, an occasional SWC contributor, who watches events from the USA, has this comment:
Quote:
I can guess from some questions asked from me that a lively debate going on in Pakistan about Saudi request for cooperation of Pakistan in Yemeni theatre.
In 2010, I saw some early signs of a trend and in 2011, wrote a piece to give some background about the issue. A very well informed Saudi then serving at a very senior position under Prince Bandar at newly created Saudi National Security Council was very upset with me (I had done some earlier work on internal dynamics of the ruling family and other issues facing Saudi Arabia and that may be contributing factor). I explained to him the nature of my sources and asked him to point to any factual errors but he never explained. He rather gave a general comment that ‘who else Pakistan can count on except Saudi Arabia’. Unfortunately, in the absence of a culture of diligent research in Pakistan even in academia, folk lore and drawing room chit chat and mess talk is passed on as history confusing many.
The most misunderstood chapter is Pakistan’s role in Jordan in 1970. Only Pakistani combat troops involved were a small detachment of anti air craft guns and this detachment was sent not protect Jordan from Israelis. King Hussain was concerned that Syrian or possibly Iraqi air force may act in support of Palestinians planning to overthrow him and that is why he specifically requested it from Pakistan. I have highlighted the text in bold that answers some specific questions such as role of General Zia ul Haq in Jordan in 1970.
My next project was to work on Oman as it is a peculiar case where Baluch citizens of Pakistan serve their full military careers in the security forces of Oman including officer corps. However, some who had great insight of the subject decided to keep quite and I had to shelve the project.
Attached is a background paper written in July 2011, on historical security cooperation.
UAE warns Pakistan of ‘heavy price for ambiguous stand’ on Yemen
Quote:
Speaking to renowned Emirati newspaper Khaleej Times, Garhash warned Pakistan of having to pay a “heavy price” for taking on what he called an “ambiguous stand”. He added that Pakistan should take a clear position “in favour of its strategic relations with the six-nation Arab Gulf cooperation Council”.
“The Arabian Gulf is in a dangerous confrontation, its strategic security is on the edge, and the moment of truth distinguishes between the real ally and the ally of media and statements,”
http://www.dawn.com/news/1175284/uae...stand-on-yemen
Avoiding risk for one means risk for others
The NYT op-ed 'Pakistan, the Saudis’ Indispensable Nuclear Partner' by:
Quote:
Pervez Hoodbhoy is a professor of physics and mathematics. He teaches at Forman Christian College in Lahore and Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad.
Link:http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/22/op...ani-rift.html?
Near the start he writes:
Quote:
The recent deterioration of Pakistan’s ties with its Arab benefactors, even if it turns out to be temporary, is unprecedented.
He ends with:
Quote:
Except that now Saudi Arabia, which is too rich to be ignored yet too weak to defend itself, has reason to fear that Pakistan, its indispensable nuclear partner, might no longer simply follow its diktats.
Historical note on KSA-Pakistani links
I have seen references to the historical and this thread often has posts on the sometimes supportive role Pakistan plays now in Saudi security. So thanks to a "lurker":
Quote:
In the aftermath of the 1979 takeover of the Grand Mosque in Mecca by extremists, Saudi Arabia was looking for foreign troops from a Muslim country to address its internal security dilemma.
On return, the delegation recommended to General Zia ul Haq that Pakistan should only send advisors and trainers, but no combat troops should be sent to Saudi Arabia as this will complicate Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia’s neighbors. Zia overruled and agreed to deployment of a large Pakistani contingent.
Saudi Arabia was looking at this contingent from mainly internal security point of view and they wanted operational and administrative control of the contingent. Kallue was of the view that a Pakistani officer should be the overall commander of the Pakistani force and on this issue he did not go to Riyadh. In 1982, a formal agreement was signed and Saudi Pakistan Armed Forces Organization (SPAFO) headquarters was established at Riyadh. Pakistani troops were stationed at different locations in the kingdom and numbered about 17,000.
An enlarged armoured brigade consisting of three armoured regiments, one armoured infantry battalion, one artillery regiment and other supporting elements was stationed at Tabuk. …An anti-air craft regiment as well as an artillery regiment were stationed at Khamis Mushayet while technical and EME elements were stationed at Taif. In addition, trainers from the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy were also stationed in Saudi Arabia.
Taken from the Pakistani Defence Journal, October 2016
Pakistani General to head KSA-led coalition
Quote:
General Raheel Sharif, the former Pakistani army chief, will now head the Saudi Arabia-led 39-nation military coalition formed to serve as a platform for security cooperation and combat terrorism.
The decision to appoint Gen (retd) Raheel, who retired in November 2016, was taken after taking the incumbent government into confidence, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said yesterday.
Link:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistans-ex-army-chief-joins-saudi-arabia-led-military-coalition/articleshow/56391182.cms?
Asia's quiet superpower: the Pakistan Army
An interesting title in an on-line news site: 'Asia's quiet superpower: Pakistan Army’s teetering balance between Saudi and Iran'.
When I first read the (below) extract I laughed; the Pakistani Army has not won a single war and has followed at times a strategy of embracing the Afghan Taliban and some of its own terrorists. Hardly a prospectus that IMHO would encourage any Arab ruler to embrace them.
Anyway the extract:
Quote:
With a Pakistani general leading a Saudi-led terror fighting force, Islamabad has the chance once again to be the region’s final guarantor.
When one thinks of the Pakistan Army, one does not instinctively think of a force that is relevant to conflicts in the Middle East. Yet increasingly – and without actually being involved in any operations - it is the most influential military in the region.
Link:http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns...iran-903452261
The author Kamal Alam is a Pakistani Visiting Fellow @ RUSI (London) and his slim bio is:https://rusi.org/people/alam
Have I missed the deployment of troops, planes and more from Pakistan to the region? I'd wager there are more Western "infidels" in situ than Pakistani military. The author though writes:
Quote:
After the fall of Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi army, and Iran’s rising influence across the Middle East, the Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, have looked to Pakistan as the final guarantor.
Asia's quiet superpower: the Pakistan Army - two replies
Two "lurkers", both SME, on this topic have provided comments.
A general reply:
Quote:
The author has overstretched his imagination. If we believe the author that Pakistan is teacher of all Arab armies then utter and most humiliating defeats at the hands of Israelis does not speak well for the teaching skills of the teacher. Where did he get the information that majority of military was in favor of joining the Yemen adventure? I have interacted with a large number of officers of all ranks including many close to Raheel Sharif on this topic. They could not say it openly but privately they communicated with me that majority of officers were against it. Of course Shia officers were pretty acidic in their response. The case of soldiers is a bit different. They mainly come from the conservative, rural areas and their view is shaped by holy places in Saudi Arabia and they may see it as defending holy places.
From the cited article above:
Quote:
....the Pakistan army is the only non-sectarian army in the Muslim world - it has had Shia Hazara chief of staffs, Sunnis and several Christian generals.
Riposte:
Quote:
During General Mussharraf’s time, a number of senior officers were Shia including some Corps Commanders and the GOC of the Special Service Group (SSG, a SOF unit). Many participated in operations against militants. However, since then Shia numbers have dwindled in senior ranks. Among the rank and file of the Northern Light Infantry that recruits from northern areas with significant Shia population this unit has a good number of Shia soldiers. Christians are only a handful and to my knowledge now no one with now holds a senior post. A two star Christian Major General Noel recently retired. I don’t know much about their numbers in Air Force and Navy.
The second lurker pointed to Shashank Joshi's (also of RUSI) commentary on the Indian and Pakistani role in the Middle East:https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-in...ce-middle-east
He notes that:
Quote:
Today, Pakistan’s presence is smaller but still includes a squadron of pilots at the UAE’s Al Ain Airbase and two brigades in Saudi Arabia.
Curiously the current IISS 'Military Balance' does not show the two brigades. Perhaps the soldiers serve within Saudi units?
Someone knows how to needle Pakistan in the UAE:
Quote:
...Emirati minister immediately after Pakistan’s parliament voted against involvement (in Yemen) in 2015. Pakistan would pay a ‘heavy price’. This is perhaps one reason why, on 26 January, Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE armed forces, watched the Indian military parade through New Delhi for the country’s Republic Day. Al-Nahyan, who was invited as chief guest, had been greeted at the airport, against protocol, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.
1 Attachment(s)
Finally the General can go
Ahmed Rashid, the author has this BBC News article that starts with:
Quote:
The appointment of Pakistan's former army chief General Raheel Sharif to head a 39-country Saudi-led military alliance of Muslim countries to combat terrorism has set off intense debate in Pakistan and in the region.
After months of silence from Gen Sharif, Pakistan's defence ministry has now said that both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have come to an agreement on his posting.
(He ends with) There has been longstanding criticism from politicians and the media that Pakistan has been ignoring Iran, even though it is an important neighbour. So far Gen Sharif's appointment has only increased that criticism and created considerable unease as to the future course of Pakistan's foreign policy.
Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39525449
Hamid Hussain has a longer commentary, with several intriguing parts, e.g. the Israeli-Saudi relationship, on the attachment.
Military finesse diplomacy and confuse everyone?
A curious update from RUSI by a Pakistani analyst: 'The Pakistani Army's Defence Diplomacy: More Action, Fewer Word' and sub-titled:
Quote:
With a renewed defence diplomatic effort in the Gulf and Afghanistan, Pakistan’s army is determined to dispel misconceptions and address allegations made by both adversaries and allies.
Why curious? This passage helps to explain:
Quote:
Some of the key charges against the country were that Pakistan’s actions did not match its words. Islamabad, critics – including the US – claimed was not ‘coming clean’ about its policies in Afghanistan, that its relationship with the Saudis lacked transparency and that it was pursuing a hostile stance towards Iran.Bajwa, who took over in November 2016 from Sharif, has sought to dispel these claims. Since taking over, he has set his eyes firmly on strengthening Pakistan’s relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Iran, talking straight about Afghanistan to the Americans and not misleading India over false promises of conflict resolution.
His first three foreign visits were to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and he has now announced a forthcoming visit to Tehran.
(Finally) All told, Pakistan’s army is now moving away from its previous stance of purely working in support of Saudi Arabia in the Middle East.
Link:https://rusi.org/commentary/pakistan...on-fewer-words
This seems to be a diplomatic sequence that aims to please everyone, both Arab nations and Iran. So Pakistan is not committed to really help "when the chips are down".
There are comments on Afghanistan, so they are posted elsewhere.
We're adding 1k to those already in Saudi
Looks like the Pakistani Senate's "nose is out of joint" over the deployment of troops to Saudi Arabia:
Quote:
Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani on Monday threatened Defence Minister Dastagir with 'contempt of parliament' proceedings after the minister outright refused to provide details of the ‘unilateral decision’ to send Pakistani troops to Saudi Arabia for deployment.
Disclosing the size of the deployment for the first time since the decision was announced, Dastagir said a total of 1,000 Pakistani troops are being sent to the Kingdom on a training mission. He said 1,600 Pakistani soldiers are already stationed in Saudi Arabia. The defence minister attempted to assure Senate that the troops will not be deployed outside the Kingdom's territory,
Link:https://www.dawn.com/news/1390403/go...o-saudi-arabia
Pakistani training and advice mission
From a commentary:
Quote:
According to the Pakistani
defence minister, the latest troops sent to Saudi Arabia have embarked on a training and advice mission, and will not be dispatched onward to Yemen. The Pakistani army has apparently developed significant expertise in mountain warfare and counter-insurgency during recent military operations in Pakistani tribal areas and the Swat Valley, and will be transferring these skills to Saudi forces. And the only mountainous region within the kingdom that’s currently a conflict zone is on the Yemeni border.
Link:https://theconversation.com/why-pakistan-has-troops-in-saudi-arabia-and-what-it-means-for-the-middle-east-92613?
Will there be "mission creep"?
Then there's this, people not formations, although unclear if they are seconded, contractors or simply "tourists":
Quote:
Although the kingdom, like other Arab Gulf countries, does not make the numbers public, experts say there are as many as 70,000 Pakistanis serving across the Saudi military services at any one time.
Link:https://www.thenational.ae/world/pak...ingdom-1.44396
Saudi $6bn to Pakistan comes with strings as yet unknown
A puzzling story that starts with:
Quote:
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan returned home this week from Saudi Arabia with a pledge of $6 billion in loans. Khan was likely able to secure the deal with fewer strings than a previous rejected offer, due to enormous international scrutiny on the kingdom in the wake of the Jamal Khashoggi murder. But the latest package may require a deepening military partnership with Saudi Arabia.
Link:http://www.atimes.com/article/despit...-with-strings/
