Pakistan and Arab World: Security Cooperation

**omarali50** · 04-08-2015

Just a small correction. You said "In March 1969, these were replaced by Flt Lts Noor Khan (future Air Marshal) and Akmal:"

That must have been some other Noor Khan, since Air Marshall Noor Khan had already commanded the Pakistani Air Force in the 1965 Pakistan-India war and in March 1969 he was ready to start a stint as governor of Punjab under the new Martial Law regime of General Yahya Khan.

btw, more about PAF pilots in the 1973 war: http://www.paklinks.com/gs/pakistan-...raeli-war.html

**davidbfpo** · 04-10-2015

Via the BBC after the Pakistani parliamentary debate on joining the coalition:

The parliament of Pakistan expresses serious concern on the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Yemen and its implications for peace and stability of the region...[It] desires that Pakistan should maintain neutrality in the Yemen conflict so as to be able to play a proactive diplomatic role to end the crisis.

Note the caveat:

Friday's resolution backed the Pakistani government's commitment to protect Saudi territorial integrity and Islamic holy places located inside the kingdom.

Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-32246547

WaPo notes:

Under Pakistan’s constitution, the resolution is non-binding, because the prime minister has complete authority over the country’s armed forces. But Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said this week he planned to leave the matter up to parliament.

Link to a slightly longer report:http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...f6a_story.html

**blueblood** · 04-10-2015

Originally Posted by davidbfpo

Via the BBC after the Pakistani parliamentary debate on joining the coalition:

Note the caveat:

Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-32246547

WaPo notes:

Link to a slightly longer report:http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...f6a_story.html

This is probably the smartest decision Pak politicos and the army made since 1947. With sectarian tensions running very high in Pak, a "Shia-Sunni war" is the last thing they needed.

But defying the people who give you unconditional money and oil and control the holy sites will have some grave consequences.With US winding down in Afg, Chinese economy slowing down, SA could have been the meal ticket Pak so desperately needed.

For me, Gen Raheel Sharif came out as the smartest guy. The one time PA is glad to be under a democratic government.

**blueblood** · 04-11-2015

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

**CrowBat** · 04-13-2015

Answer from Islamabad:
Pakistan minister hits out at UAE over Yemen criticism

...Pakistan’s interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan hit back on Sunday night in an unusually strongly worded statement, accusing the UAE of “making threats.”

“This is not only ironic but a thought-provoking moment that a minister of UAE is hurling threats at Pakistan. The statement of the UAE minister is in stark violation of all diplomatic norms prevalent according to the principals of international relations,” he said.

“Pakistan is an honored nation and has brotherly emotions for the people of UAE along with Saudi Arabia, but this statement of an Emirati minister is equal to an offence against the ego of Pakistan and its people and is unacceptable.”

Pakistan was the first country to recognize the independence of the UAE in 1971 and the two Sunni Muslim-majority countries have close economic ties.
...

Overall, one is left to wonder: OK, the UAEAF has deployed about a dozen of its F-16E/Fs to Saudi Arabia. But, why do they need Pakistani troops if they're so eager to go into Yemen?

**blueblood** · 04-13-2015

Originally Posted by CrowBat

Answer from Islamabad:
Pakistan minister hits out at UAE over Yemen criticism

Overall, one is left to wonder: OK, the UAEAF has deployed about a dozen of its F-16E/Fs to Saudi Arabia. But, why do they need Pakistani troops if they're so eager to go into Yemen?

Because they don't have people.

In 2013, the UAE's total population was 9.2 million, of which 1.4 million are Emirati citizens and 7.8 million are expatriates.

Their armed forces are mostly comprised of Pakistani ex military. IIRC, fighting arm of UAE Army stands about 2 Div. I don't think that UAE can afford to send even a brigade to Yemen. Pakistan, OTOH has one of the largest standing army in the world.