Parliament to decide Pakistan’s role in conflict: army chief
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ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif said on Monday that parliament would decide the role of Pakistan in the conflict in Yemen.
Talking to a group of reporters at the presidency after a reception hosted by President Mamnoon Hussain in honour of Sri Lankan President Maithripapa Sirisena, the army chief said: “The debate is going on; let us see what will be decided.”
Gen Sharif’s remarks came at the time when a joint sitting of parliament is debating the conflict in Yemen and whether Pakistan should meet Saudi Arabia’s request to join a coalition of Arab states trying to crush Houthi rebels.
Take a look: Much ado about PTI at joint session to debate Yemen dilemma
Answering a question about the Zarb-i-Azb military operation in tribal areas, the army chief said it was progressing smoothly. “You will hear good news about the operation,” he said.
“It will be completed successfully soon,” he added.
APP adds: Meanwhile, Gen Raheel Sharif praised efforts made by the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) to meet the requirements of arms and ammunition for the Zarb-i-Azb operation against terrorists in North Waziristan.
Addressing its management and staff during a visit to the POF in Wah on Monday, he said that it was a premier defence industry of the country making invaluable contribution to sustaining combat worthiness of the armed forces.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, Gen Raheel praised the POF management for its dedication to optimise the output and stressed the need for technological upgradation and maximum indigenisation to attain self-reliance in defence production.
The army chief was briefed by the POF chairman on the performance of the chain of factories and expansion plans.
The envisaged modernisation and increase in production capacity would enhance the standard of manufacturing and save foreign exchange, he was told.
Gen Sharif also visited the manufacturing facilities.
Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2015
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Comments (67) Closed
Apr 07, 2015 06:48am
Plea to Pakistani Army to not get itself involved in this conflict and instead use these resources to secure our own nation. God knows we already have enough problems as it is
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Apr 07, 2015 06:59am
Unbelievable statement! Is Pakistan moving to right path? Anyway this statement from general gives some hope for pro democracy forces..
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Apr 07, 2015 07:02am
Really?
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Apr 07, 2015 07:02am
i hope he really means it.
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Apr 07, 2015 07:08am
Pakistan MUST stay out of Yemen mess. This is NOT our mess, this mess is created by Saudis so they must resolve it themselves. Saudis should NOT drag Pakistan into their mess.
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Apr 07, 2015 07:23am
The hidden enemies of Pakistan would want Pakistan to engage in yet another battle and open yet another front
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Apr 07, 2015 07:25am
Pakistan's Army chief gets more attention than any other services chief in the world!. Everyone knows the army chief of Pakistan, but very few knows who are the Air & Navy Chief!.
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Apr 07, 2015 07:31am
then the issue has already been decided. we are not sending our military men to Yemen to fight someone else's war.
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Apr 07, 2015 07:48am
Army chief is performing his duty with dignity and honour. Our politicians should come up to the expectation of the people at this critical juncture of the history and decide our precise role in Yeman crisis.
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Apr 07, 2015 07:57am
wonderful statement, the man impresses me yet again.
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Apr 07, 2015 08:01am
Do not go into Yemen, you are all aware of the fact that you will be fighting the Shias, but keep in mind 30% or so population in Pakistan is Shia as well, if you hurt Shia in Yemen, there are chances Shia at home will revolt as well, I am not trying to exaggerate but this could start an ugly and deadly conflict at home as well. do NOT bring thing war home. think wisely.
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Apr 07, 2015 08:03am
Excellent excuse to stay away from Yemen Conflict.
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Apr 07, 2015 08:04am
Not sure about the ground realities but this is a welcoming statement from Pakistan army. Democracy should prevail to make any country strong.
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Apr 07, 2015 08:13am
Excellent ! Now let us see just how capable our politicians are when it comes to dealing with conflict . The Media and Politicians are forever brainwashing the public about how the "Dictators" have ruled Pakistan ever since it's inception . Now that a Democratic government is in place, it would be interesting to see how the Politicians handle it .
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Apr 07, 2015 08:14am
new twist
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Apr 07, 2015 08:37am
This 'parliament' good for nothing. Don't leave the fate of this country in these peoples hands.
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Apr 07, 2015 08:39am
Why Arabs can not fight? We have a lot to clean in our house.
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Apr 07, 2015 08:40am
Exactly, Let parliament decide the policy and army should decide how to implement it.
Everyone should do the jobs they were uprooted for.
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Apr 07, 2015 08:45am
Army has given permission, I think now Parliament can pass a Resolution?
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Apr 07, 2015 08:46am
Pakistan should not involve in any conflict before putting its own house in order.
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Apr 07, 2015 08:50am
The reason Saudi Arabia is bombing Houthi rebels is clear; and it is not to protect Haramain Shareef. Rather than tackling the menace of ISIS, if the Saudis and the Gulf States want to engage in their sectarian war in Yemen, then let them put its own soldiers at risk. We need to stay clear of this conflict.
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Apr 07, 2015 08:53am
Good thinking and very constitutional . This is the job of elected public representatives. Pakisatn Zindabad.
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Apr 07, 2015 08:58am
That's not happening. What should we do? how we can help those muslims?
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Apr 07, 2015 09:01am
Could have fooled me. The International media has been showing Pakistan and Egypt included in Saudi alliance for a week now. Yet they are trying to fool Pakistani public. It is already decided and that is why all parties are brought in the NA. the timings say it all.
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Apr 07, 2015 09:02am
yes. that's right.
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Apr 07, 2015 09:03am
Pakistani army for Pakistani people, its not mercenary or pay as you go on war.
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Apr 07, 2015 09:08am
GHQ should learn from that Islamabad cop who refused to use force against masses.
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Apr 07, 2015 09:08am
Hahaha yeah the parliament decides what the army should do. Nice joke
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Apr 07, 2015 09:10am
It will be completed successfully soon
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Apr 07, 2015 09:12am
Easy way to pass the buck , i thought person of raheel stature would take responsibility not run away from it.
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Apr 07, 2015 09:16am
Raheel Sharif gave us an example of what is commonly called a non binding resolution
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Apr 07, 2015 09:24am
This is an era of good news for Pakistan as PTI returning to Parliament, PTI holding rallies in Karachi and COAS is showing willingness to follow the decision of Parliament on an important issue.
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Apr 07, 2015 09:29am
Stay away from Yemen
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Apr 07, 2015 09:34am
Army Chief is giving Politicians everything but they have lost self respect and the power to decide things on big matters
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Apr 07, 2015 09:47am
To Parliment: Just say NO to avoid major civil unrest in Pak,
Sincerely,
A man who's fed up with the current repercussions from War on Terror 2001 decision
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Apr 07, 2015 09:49am
At last, for something which causes huge risk to Pakistan one does not want to take responsibility...
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Apr 07, 2015 09:59am
parliamentarians are only there to make problems and issues for Pakistan. You should take your action and execute it.
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Apr 07, 2015 10:14am
The fate of this country should not rest on Nawaz Shareef. His personal interests put Mr.Sharif in a difficult situation and I think its the army that should decide.
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Apr 07, 2015 10:41am
How are we going to win war abroad when we can't win our on wars against the Taliban,poverty,education,health and proper sanitation.
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Apr 07, 2015 10:45am
It appears the top brass is in full swing to enter this reckless war. What sort of social implications this will incur on our own society, no one really cares. We Pakistanis are only made for suffering the consequences from decisions made by a selfish leadership. Fix your own home, our loyalties are only with the protection of Makkah and Medina, more specifically Ka'abah and masjid nabawi, not their royal families.
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Apr 07, 2015 10:47am
We don't own this parliament, so Army should decide.
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Apr 07, 2015 11:00am
This is a real general that respects the rule of law. God bless we finally have prosperity.
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Apr 07, 2015 11:06am
Pakistan should not jump into this chaos; Muslims killing Muslims! let peace come through peaceful means!
There is no muslak problem in Yemen! Its just a struggle between haves and have-not!
History teaches us that it is very easy to start a war but very difficult to end it!
Let wisdom prevail! No more war!
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Apr 07, 2015 11:26am
Santosh Menon, the reason army chief gets more press coverage than anyone else is because the army is the peg that holds the nation in place. But you would not understand that.
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Apr 07, 2015 11:28am
puppet parliament
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Apr 07, 2015 11:29am
@Santosh Menon: in Pakistan Army chief is chief of Army, Air force and Navy. Heads of different forces are different.
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Apr 07, 2015 11:32am
if not today than tomorrow, big war is coming. So better to decide now that which alliance Pakistan should join. Iran is not a friend and it doesn't matter Pakistan fights Yemen war or not.
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Apr 07, 2015 11:33am
@Santosh Menon that's because, the Army is actively fighting foreign funded terrorists in the north. The Navy is not involved, the Air Force Chief is known.
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Apr 07, 2015 11:34am
Nawaz does not want to say no to his Saudi Masters......so he put the topi on Raheels head.......who sinsebly says Parliament should decide.....because the people have resoundingly said ' stay away '.
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Apr 07, 2015 11:44am
Just heard that a Saudi Army Corporal border recently killed in Yemen clashes and the Saudi govt has decided to increase his rank along with payment to his dead family for life or until they want decide not to. God forbid would Saudi A pay the same benefit to all Pakistani soldiers should they have a similar fate. Saudi A views it's own citizen's lives much more than Pakistani soldiers. As the saying goes " money talks". Saudi A thinks that they can buy everything including Pakistani soliders to fight their dirty wars. I HOPE CORRUPT PAKISTNI POLICITANS DON'T FALL IN THIS TRAP.
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Apr 07, 2015 11:47am
This should be the way to go. Democracy is emerging in Pakistan. I am proud on you general Raheel.
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Apr 07, 2015 11:48am
@Santosh Menon Only the army chief can sack the PM.
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Apr 07, 2015 11:49am
Pakistan will NOT have boots on ground in Yemen. No way.
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Apr 07, 2015 12:15pm
LOL they'll take orders from the parliament. Sure!
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Apr 07, 2015 12:31pm
Saudi Arabia's territorial integrity or sovereignty is not threatened. Nobody attack Saudi whereas Saudi Arabia attacking Yemen for political reasons. Why should Pakistan is involving unless/until Saudi Arabia is attacked by someone.
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Apr 07, 2015 12:37pm
Strange, why isnt UN peacekeepers are there in Yemen, and how come UN is not intervening for peace. Why isnt Saudi Kingdom asking for UN to mediate for peace, rather, inflaming the situation with war and asking Pakistan army.
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Apr 07, 2015 12:42pm
I wouldn't get involved
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Apr 07, 2015 12:56pm
@Faiza G. R. Bhatt Please bro, don't forget, Saudi Arabia has requested to send the army. The role of Saudi Arabia in the funding of Pakistan's projects will have a setback.
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Apr 07, 2015 01:16pm
love you general ...you're really good general ever we proud of you.
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Apr 07, 2015 02:38pm
Sure parliament should decide. But on such a sensitive issue, our politicians have not put on a mature outlook. Just look at what has been happening in parliament for last two days. Isn't it time they come up to nation's expectations?!
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Apr 07, 2015 02:46pm
This is called preplanned political wrangling to give the impression that Pakistan Army and Political leaders have a dilemma and they are working hard. But the facts on the ground state otherwise. Ground troops and Air force contingent are already there before the Air Strikes started.
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Apr 07, 2015 02:47pm
Brave Soldier. He is different from Musharaff, Zia, Yahya, Ayub ......... He is totally different from them. He is handling situation Intelligently.
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Apr 07, 2015 03:51pm
See the fine line in the statement. The "Parliament" will decide and not the "Govt". So this means that the joint session has been called on the advice of the army chief?
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Apr 07, 2015 04:49pm
@Zak Whatever you say.
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Apr 07, 2015 06:55pm
Our country has no role in Yemen or any other place outside our own borders. Any misadventure will have serious and permanent consequences for Pakistan.
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Apr 07, 2015 07:20pm
@Einstein Babar Well said brother ... I think Saudia is doing as good as Pakistan in the form of Zarb-e-Azb. Because, these circumstances are created by America and Israel to create conflict between muslim states. Iran is playing double game to get clean chit from so called super power ...
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Apr 07, 2015 07:48pm
@Freethinker dude its reminicent of Gen Kayani's statement "we will shoot down drones if GOVERNMENT tells us" Hard decisions govt while running everything else ISPR jumps to take credits!
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