ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia is likely to accept Pakistan’s offer for a humanitarian assistance role in Yemen.

Saudi Charge d’affaires in Pakistan Jassim bin Mohammed Al Khalidi, talking to reporters at a reception at the Foreign Office, said his country was still looking towards Pakistan for cooperation on Yemen.

But the role that Pakistan was being expected to play in the crisis changed after Saudi Arabia last week announced end to air campaign and start of Operation Renewal of Hope, which Riyadh says, would focus on humanitarian efforts.

Know more: Sharif reiterates resolve to help implement UNSC resolution on Yemen

Mr Al Khalidi ruled out any ground intervention in Yemen at this stage, saying Operation Decisive Storm had achieved its objectives.

The diplomat said that Pakistan’s help was now required for humanitarian mission in Yemen.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had during his recent visit to S. Arabia along with Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif offered to the country’s leadership cooperation in the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen’s population affected by 27 days of air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition.

“Pakistan also offered to cooperate in delivering humanitarian assistance to the people of Yemen,” a government statement had said after the prime minister’s day-long trip to Riyadh last week.

Mr Al Khalidi, while explaining Saudi government’s insistence on Pakistan becoming part of the military coalition, said it was more about symbolism that Islamabad’s participation would have carried than actually having boots on the ground.

Pakistan’s involvement in Operation Decisive Storm would have conveyed that it were not only the Arabs that were standing with Yemen, but other Muslim countries too supported the operation against Houthi rebels.

The Saudi diplomat made a rare expression of the frustration being felt in Saudi Arabia about Pakistan.

“We had always expected Pakistan to be on our side and not sitting alone in another corner,” he said.

When asked for his reaction to Islamabad’s indecision on sending troops, he replied with a counter question that reflected his feelings. “What would be the reaction in Pakistan if it needed help and Saudi Arabia did not respond,” he asked.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2015

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