Pakistan is serving as a mediator between regional enemies Saudi Arabia and Iran in efforts to end their proxy war in Yemen currently fueling a humanitarian crisis that has killed at least 10,000 people, Prime Minister Imran Khan revealed on Wednesday night.
In March 2015, a Saudi-led Sunni coalition launched a military campaign against Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels to restore the internationally-recognized Yemeni government.
“We are acting as a conciliator between the two countries to end the war,” PM Khan said in a televised address on Wednesday night, Voice of America (VOA) reported.
Fawad Chaudhry, Pakistan’s information minister, reportedly explained that Khan first floated the idea for Pakistan to mediate during a trip to the Saudi kingdom soon after his election as prime minister.
“Since then, Pakistan has been carrying out a Track II process,” Chaudhry declared, adding, “We have been in touch with all stakeholders to the conflict.”
This week, Khan attended an international investment forum in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Khan secured a $6 billion loan from the kingdom to help resuscitate Pakistan’s flagging economy.
“Pakistan is facing a severe economic crisis. With its foreign reserves dwindling and a balance of payment crisis looming, the country was looking to Saudi Arabia for help. The oil-rich kingdom has often bailed out Pakistan in times of financial crisis,” VOA noted.
“Thank God we’ve got a great package from Saudi Arabia. We thank them,” Khan said.
In addition to the $6 billion loan package, Pakistan is still seeking an $8 to $11 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The conflict in Yemen erupted in 2014 when Iran-allied Houthis seized parts of the country in and around the capital from the Saudi-backed government. By March 2015, Saudi Arabia had formed a coalition of several Sunni Arab states and started bombing the Houthis with logistical.
The United States has provided intelligence, military advice, and logistical support to the Saudi–led coalition in Yemen since 2015.
In March, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) noted:
U.S. stated goals for this assistance are to restore the UN-recognized government of Yemen and preserve Saudi territorial integrity from incursion by Yemen-based Houthi rebels. Deepening Iranian support for the Houthi rebels has also reinforced U.S. concern for Yemen’s trajectory.
However, the Saudi-led coalition’s operations in Yemen have led to civilian casualties and collateral damage prompting concerns from the international humanitarian community and U.S. Congress. These concerns highlight how the unintended effects of the coalition’s operations have exacerbated the terrible conditions of Yemen’s civil war, characterized as the “worst humanitarian disaster” in nearly 50 years.
The Sunni kingdom’s alleged involvement in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul has triggered a renewed push to end U.S. support for Saudi Arabia in Yemen.
According to the United Nations, Yemen is also at risk of famine that is likely to cause a “massive loss of life.”
U.N.-brokered negotiations to end the war in Yemen have failed.
Human rights activists criticized Khan for attending the three-day investment conference in Saudi Arabia at a time when business executives and policymaker stayed away from the Sunni kingdom in the wake of the allegedly gruesome murder of Washington Post contributor and Saudi critic Kashoggi.
In early November, Khan is reportedly expected to visit China, one of Pakistan’s top ally, to seek additional financial assistance.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.