A screenshot of the Roznama Jasarat column
Following are excerpts from a recent column on the Yemen conflict written by former Pakistani Army chief of staff Aslam Beg and published by Roznama Jasarat, a leading Urdu-language daily belonging to Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan.
"Iran... Is Jubilant At Its Success - But... Its Increasing Influence In Syria, Iraq And Now Yemen Can Turn Into A Long-Term War Which Will Create Problems For Iranians"
"For the past half century, Yemen has been the crisis center for the Middle East region. In 1962, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt successfully put the fear of God into the hearts of monarchs from Baghdad to Sana'a through a movement of awakening in the Middle East. He created a wave of awakening among the inhabitants of Yemen, and by using Houthi tribal power, ended the monarchic rule [there]. Call it the good luck of Yemen and other monarchies [in the region] that Egypt suffered defeat at the hands of Israel in the Six Day War in 1967.
"Today, Yemen is faced with a similar situation, because Iran, which has increased its influence from Damascus and Baghdad to Sana'a, is [supporting] Houthi tribes, which through a successful rebellion against President Hadi, have taken control of the Presidential Palace in Sana'a and have captured the strategically important port of Bab Al-Mandeb. Despite intensive bombing by Arab allied forces, the Yemen conflict is becoming a cause of danger to the security of Saudi Arabia. It is important to understand and comprehend the factors which created this situation.
"For nearly the past century, Saudi Arabia and Yemen have remained in a clash with each other. So it would not be out of place to say that past bitter feelings are now festering and that the recent regional political situation has played an important role in stoking this confrontation. The rising political consciousness in the Arab world (the Arab Spring) is the first cause of this confrontation, which uprooted monarchy from the region and empowered Iran to the effect that by using the suppressed movements in Arab [countries], it has extended the dominance of Shi'ism from Tehran to Sana'a - in the same way that Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt extended the Arab revolution from Cairo to Sana'a. Insofar as Iran is concerned, it is jubilant at its success, but in reality its increasing influence in Syria, Iraq and now Yemen can turn into a long-term war which will create problems for Iranians."
"Shi'ite And Sunni Countries Are Pitched Against Each Other In Syria, Iraq And Yemen"; "The Venom Of Sectarianism Has Penetrated So Deep... That Even An... Honorable Figure Like The Imam Of The Kaaba, In His Recent Sermon, Issued Fatwa For Total War Against Shi'ites"
"Here we will have to keep an eye on the conspiracies of America, which has been stoking the Shi'ite-Sunni divide. During the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, various sectarian disturbances were caused in Pakistan, which resulted in the formation of many extremist militias like [Sunni militant group] Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and [rival Shi'ite militant group] Sipah-e-Muhammad. When Iraq was invaded in 2003, bloody sectarian riots took place in Iraq and Pakistan. And additionally, during the last three decades, Iran was demonized as a big danger to the Sunni countries of the region and to deal with that danger, Sunni countries bought weapons worth more than two hundred billion dollars from America.
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"As a result, for the first time in 2009, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC] interfered in Bahrain to quell the Shi'ite uprising. Now Shi'ite and Sunni countries are pitched against each other in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. The venom of sectarianism has penetrated so deep in our minds that even a trustworthy and honorable figure like the Imam of the Kaaba in his recent sermon issued a fatwa for total war against Shi'ites. What can be more unfortunate than this for the Islamic world?
"Now America is stoking the fire of hatred and sectarianism on both sides. It has lifted the ban on military aid to Egypt; and Saudi Arabia and its allies are being supplied with military equipment with full fervor. On the other side, by giving a special concession to Iran with regard to the nuclear deal, sanctions on it have been lifted [sic], which will strengthen Iran economically, making it easy for it to carry out military acts outside its borders. Therefore, the sectarian divide is a collective danger for the integrity of the Islamic world."
"The Defense Of [Saudi Arabia's] 1700-km Border Is Practically Impossible, Especially As The Border Regions Are Mostly Inhabited By The Shi'ites And Their Movement Across The Border Cannot Be Effectively Monitored"
"Being a very close and reliable friend of Iran and Saudi Arabia, it is Pakistan's responsibility to carry out a dispassionate analysis of the Yemen situation so that threats to Saudi Arabia could be identified. Fortunately for us, both the 1991 Gulf War and the current Yemen conflict provide clear indications to determine an appropriate course of action. For example, in 1991, America deployed a large number of troops in Saudi Arabia due to probable danger from Iraq. Over 15,000 Pakistani troops, including an armored brigade, were stationed there.
"The Pakistani government [then led by current Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif] wanted the Pakistani forces under the Saudi government's command to defend Saudi Arabia against Saddam Hussain. I [being army chief at the time] disagreed with this decision because I knew that the objective behind the presence of American troops there was 'not to defend Saudi Arabia but to annihilate Saddam's armies.' First Saddam was lured to attack Kuwait and when his armies reached the open desert, the American army destroyed them piece by piece. So the purpose of the war was achieved, the war ended, and Saudi Arabia sent our [Pakistani] armed forces packing with great respect.
"During the war I visited my troops in Saudi Arabia and met with General Schwarzkopf in his command headquarters, a massive underground building built by Pakistani engineers. I had a detailed discussion with him. He said: 'It seems that the Pentagon has picked me for some other objective.' When I asked him to elaborate, he replied: 'This will become clear to you soon.' And it did happen, as we saw Saddam's forces were destroyed in the desert sand. That was the Desert Storm which has now become Decisive Storm in Saudi Arabia.
"The Houthi success in Yemen is a cause of concern for Saudi Arabia because it can cause serious threats to Saudi Arabia's national security. For example, the defense of [Saudi Arabia's] 1700-km border is practically impossible, especially as the border regions are mostly inhabited by the Shi'ites and their movement across the border cannot be effectively monitored. These are the areas where the big oil wells are located. Hence, Saudi Arabia is confronted with a consistent headache because it knows the reality that the Houthis are hardened fighters and with the support of Iran they have become even more dangerous; and it is impossible for Arab allied forces to face them. Hence the option of aerial bombing [in Yemen] was chosen, but this tactic is also not producing the desired effects."
"The Real Threat To Saudi Arabia Is From Within; The Wahhabi Dissidents - Numbering Over 10,000 - Are The Second Largest Component Of ISIS In Syria And Iraq; Their Only Mission Is To End The Saudi Monarchy"
"Militants from everywhere continue to arrive in Yemen. There are 'mujahideen' from the Afghanistan war of the 80s there, whom former President Saleh had employed to defeat South Yemen rebels in 1991-1994 and to keep the country united. According to a UN report, there are over 25,000 'mujahideen' from around 80 countries, who are supporting ISIS in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen. In fact, Yemen seems to be emerging as another Libya.
"At the moment, the real threat to Saudi Arabia is from within. The Wahhabi dissidents - numbering over 10,000 - are the second largest component of ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Their only mission is to end the Saudi monarchy. The southern region of Saudi Arabia is an easy target for Yemeni militants. Apart from that, there is no military threat to Saudi Arabia as such, nor is there any threat to the House of God [Kaaba].
"Now, the question is how can Pakistan help Saudi Arabia? Pakistan should help actualize King Salman's initiative, meaning that Pakistan should broker peace talks under the auspices of the Gulf Cooperation Countries to restore Yemen's territorial integrity and remove security threats to neighboring countries. Therefore, Pakistan needs to launch very aggressive diplomacy to achieve these objectives.
"Pakistan, with the help of Turkey, should provide logistical support to Saudi Arabia. The explanation for logistical support is that both Pakistan and Turkey could help Saudi Arabia ensure its territorial integrity and internal security. The option to launch ground action into Yemen is fraught with dangers, because to fight a protracted guerrilla war is beyond the capability of the [Saudi-led] coalition forces. Let the Iranians burn their fingers in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, it [Iran] perhaps has forgotten the fate of Gamal Abdel Nasser."
Source: Roznama Jasarat (Pakistan) April 7, 2015.
