-- FO, however, says any threat to Saudi Arabia's territorial integrity will evoke 'strong response' from Pakistan. This, he stated while briefing an in-camera session of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs on Pakistan's position regarding the recent conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
He also stated that Pakistan is pursuing a balanced approach and wants the two countries to defuse tensions. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, who chaired the meeting, stated the Adviser updated the committee on Pakistan's joining the Saudi-led Islamic military coalition.
He said the Adviser told the panel that Pakistan can play an important role in the field of intelligence sharing, technical training and provision of arms and ammunition. On the ground troops, he quoted Aziz as having said that "troops on ground, is against Pakistan's policy...it would be inconsistent to our policy [if troops are sent anywhere abroad], apart from UN peacekeeping mission, Pakistan has neither sent its troops in the past nor will it send in the future".
"He [Aziz] reiterated in categorical terms that it is part of Pakistan's national policy that we never send our troops on ground anywhere aboard," he stated when asked whether the Adviser assured the committee that Pakistani troops will not be used anywhere in any operation. He further said the committee was also told that Saudi Arabia has not demanded the supply of Pakistani troops.
Asked whether or not the coalition will act against the Houthi tribes in Yemen against which Saudi Arabia and its allies are fighting for the last over nine months, Leghari referred to the Adviser 's briefing to the panel that the coalition is not against any country.
With regard to Saudi Arabia-Iran diplomatic row, he said the committee which comprises representatives from all political parties including Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and other political parties had underscored the need for a policy of neutrality.
He said that Aziz told the committee that Pakistan is playing its role to defuse tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, adding Pakistan would also present its suggestions in the upcoming OIC foreign ministers' meeting in Jeddah scheduled for January 16, 2016 to reduce tensions between the two countries.
He said the Adviser updated the parliamentarians about Pakistan's efforts made so far during the high-level visits from Saudi Arabia to reduce tensions. He said the committee appreciated the efforts and recommended that Pakistan should play its natural role as a mediator between the two countries keeping in view our bilateral relations with both the countries.
To a question, Leghari said the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran is not on sectarian grounds, adding it was because of the conflicting positions between the two countries on the Syria and Yemen conflicts. "This should not be described as a sectarian conflicts, it is because of the opposite views on the two flash points in the Middle East, Syria and Yemen," he said, adding the talks on the Syrian conflict in Vienna should continue.
Committee member Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who represents PTI, stated that his party suggested that the Prime Minister should convene a meeting of the parliamentary leaders of various parties on the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran. He said that it was important that the parliamentary leaders should give their input and recommendations before the OIC foreign ministers meeting in Jeddah.
MQM's representative in the committee Dr Farooq Sattar briefly told reporters that his party's policy was clear that Pakistan should not be a party to the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran, adding Pakistan should mediate to help the two countries resolve their differences.
Meanwhile, responding to media queries, Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah clarified that the briefing was provided in an in-camera session. It was in line with Pakistan's earlier stated position on a decision to join 34-nation coalition against terrorism.
The spokesperson said the Advisor informed the Committee that Saudi Arabia is a close friend of Pakistan. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy multi-faceted cooperation including in the fields of defence and counter terrorism. He said Pakistan has affirmed that any threat to Saudi Arabia's territorial integrity will evoke strong response from Pakistan, adding the recent high-level contacts between the two countries have further strengthened these ties.
Reiterating Pakistan's position, the spokesperson underscored that, in keeping with Pakistan's unflinching commitment to combating terrorism and support for all regional and international efforts to eliminate the menace of terrorism, Pakistan welcomed the formation of the coalition to counter terrorism. "The facets of cooperation and different activities of the Coalition will be decided after consultative meetings which will be hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the near future," the spokesperson added.