By Afshain Afzal
The UN recognized Government forces in Yemen are doing well. Uncertainty looms on the implementation part of Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA) as Pakistani and Turkish authorities are continuously dribbling with the time rather that shooting the ball inside the goalpost. Mere condemning "in the strongest possible terms" will not suffice. Foreign Ministers of Turkey and Pakistan were there in New York but instead taking a decision they felt a need to review progress towards establishing institutional structures under the framework of the Agreement. Saudi Arabia gave a call for an urgent meeting of the Chiefs of Staffs of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan to discuss ways of supporting Saudi Arabia under MJDA but again only the establishment of the secretariat, committees and working groups under the agreement was discussed, which was obviously not the job of military chiefs within MGDA framework. Saudi Arabia has taken the right step by not recognizing Houthis as stakeholder in Yemeni politics or control over Babul Mandus (Bab ul Mandab) and Iranian control over Strait of Hormuz.
At the meeting the coercive strategy part on account of continuous terrorist attacks on Saudi Arabia was missing rather stress upon involving good offices of Tehran and Washington was the focal point. Earlier, Pakistan sent India’s Ministry of External Affairs blue eyed Mohsin Naqvi to Tehran on 21 September to discuss permissions over actions on the regional situation due to Houthis attacks. At the conclusion of his visit he announced Mohsin Naqvi “bilateral relations will become even stronger between Pakistan and Iran in the coming days”. Just a soft realization what if within MGDA framework, the member countries suggest an aggrieved victim of terrorism for peace table talks with non-state actor or terrorist as a full fledge stakeholder to resole the issue?
The French Ministere Des Affaires Etrangeres Francais took a bold step on the world chessboard… it is a checkmate for those who were successfully used Tehran and Houthis cards to deceive the world though Artificial Intelligence social media and cyber intrusions. Interestingly, Paris took this move in haste to protect own interests relating to its huge investment without realizing that their move would serve as a checkmate. The United States, United Kingdom and several other important stakeholders including some individuals from Muslim countries, as agents could not have even imagined how things would go against them and favour Saudi Arabia after leaked releases from Pentagon or some other remote locations is at much comfortable position. This is the time for Saudi Arabia to delay all deals and agreements and confine to mere engagement till the very hostile environment settle down between three Western nations. Muslim nations and allies must ignore hypocrite traits of some of the members and remain united as success lies in “Faith, Unity and Discipline”.