Pakistan military plans to devote nine army battalions and six wings of civilian security force to protect Chinese workers and engineers. Roughly, this would equate to 12,000 men protecting the immigrant workers.
Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22 2015
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
12,000 men will be deployed to guard Chinese workers in Pak
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
Take that joo Kufr. Pakisatan is the top nation which says religion plays an important role in their lives
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Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
US drone strikes kill US, Italian hostages in Pakistan
The White House says that two hostages, including an American, were inadvertently killed in Pakistan earlier this year as the result of a United States-launched drone strike.
Senior administration officials told the Wall Street Journal that an attack in January against a suspected Al-Qaeda compound caused the death of American development expert Warren Weinstein and Giovanni Lo Porto, an Italian aid worker.
US President Barack Obama is expected to speak on the matter during an address Thursday morning.
According to the Journal’s Thursday morning report, the White House has already launched an investigation into the incident which may prompt the administration to revamp its drone program.
The deaths of the two men, the paper acknowledged, are the first known instances in which a US drone strike has accidentally caused hostage casualties. Previously, the White House has admitted that drone strikes waged by the US in 2011 had killed two suspected members of Al-Qaeda with American citizenship and one of their sons, also a US citizen
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
Since ending subsidies is probably politically very difficult, the answer is also what the IMF has been asking Pakistan to do - which is to collect more taxes. Problem of course is that taxes will hit the oligarchy that runs Pakistan.arun wrote: ....
Express Tribune yet further goes on to then explain that “the government is stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, it has promised China that it will fund its part of several projects for CPEC. On the other hand, it has also promised the International Monetary Fund that it will keep the budget deficit limited to 4% of the total size of the economy for fiscal 2016.”:
Fiscal management: Govt scrambles to find development funds
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Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
I don't believe IMF figures on Paki economy for a micro second. Any figure floated here by resident Paki experts are more accurate than the high quality BS thats flying around.
Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
kish Ji :kish wrote:Take that joo Kufr. Pakisatan is the top nation which says religion plays an important role in their lives
As India is not mentioned in the above PEW Graph, so this Graph should be sent to all the Indian Sicular Leaders. DDM etc. especially the likes of Jawed Naqvi and his Ilk along with the Pakistani Commentators - Opinion Makers and Islamic Leaders who are shedding copous tears at Modi's Hinduvta!
Cheers
Last edited by Peregrine on 23 Apr 2015 19:34, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
http://tribune.com.pk/story/874537/pm-n ... or-riyadh/
PM Nawaz, army chief arrive in Riyadh
PM Nawaz, army chief arrive in Riyadh
Before Saudi Arabia requests Pakistan to do something about terrorism in Yemen, they should realize Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism. In fact, Pakistan is the biggest victim of terrorism, is a front line ally against terrorism and has lost $50 billion due to terrorism. Terrorism and violence has no nationality and is due to lack of education, unemployment and opportunities. It can be solved only through liberalized trade, increased people to people contacts and talks to resolve all outstanding issues.“The PM and COAS’ visit to KSA will decide the country’s relations with KSA for about the next five years,” a top government official told The Express Tribune.
Sources said that Saudis may not be satisfied with Pakistan’s stance and may reiterate their demand for troops for the Yemen operation.
Further, sources said that if King Salman does not budge from his decision then COAS might have no other option but to give in to Saudi Arabia’s demands.
Sources said that in exchange, provision of oil on increased deferred payment, purchase of weapons and other privileges for the Pakistanis will be granted.
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Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
Am a bit confused - why is Al Bakistan listed as a state? Does it mean Al Q, Boko Haram and Mexican drug cartels should also be included? They are also criminal enterprises driven by an ideology. Why are they missing?Peregrine wrote:
kish Ji :kish wrote:Take that joo Kufr. Pakisatan is the top nation which says religion plays an important role in their lives
As India is not mentioned in the above PEW Graph, so this Graph should be sent to all the Indian Sicular Leaders. DDM etc. especially the likes of Jawed Naqvi and his Ilk along with the Pakistani Commentators - Opinion Makers and Islamic Leaders who are shedding copous tears at Modi's Hinduvta!
Cheers
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
When India is missed from an important graph that is a serious matter. 20% of the world population is missing in that graph.wadi wrote:
kish Ji :
As India is not mentioned in the above PEW Graph, so this Graph should be sent to all the Indian Sicular Leaders.
World oldest religions are in that region unless they classify Indian religions as 'non-religion'.The western authors use terms like mysticism etc. Lot of these kind of stats are used for social engineering.
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
The End of Pakistan’s Baloch Insurgency?
Comment: Recent months have however seen a significant spike in operations by the Baloch Freedom Fighter.
Comment: Recent months have however seen a significant spike in operations by the Baloch Freedom Fighter.
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
Paki drug smugglers caught off Porbandar
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
They do not look TFTAPaul wrote:Paki drug smugglers caught off Porbandar
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
Clashes in Balochistan Kill Seven
Two paramilitary soldiers and five insurgents were killed in gunbattles on Tuesday in Balochistan province, officials said, highlighting the challenges to a huge Chinese investment project.
Comment: Fun has already started!Sarbaz Baloch, a spokesman for the Baloch Liberation Army rebel group, claimed responsibility for attack on the airport in a call to journalists.
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
In Focus: Balochistan activists urge Pakistan to 'treat us as human beings and give us independence'
"Since Balochistan was forcefully occupied by Pakistan, Baloch people have been living as guests of death. It has never been considered, even outside Pakistan, that Balochistan belongs to the Baloch people who are now haunted. Baloch leaders are being deliberately assassinated by the occupying state of Pakistan for demanding rights to their own land," said Sherjan.
Baloch people disappeared
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
Change in Balochistan
[quote]Sir: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had promised to the nation that it would change the present socio-political system in Balochistan. But after almost two years of the new government, there is no change visible and the law of the jungle still prevails in the province. Unfortunately, the sufferings of the Baloch nation have not ended.
Comment: The writer is a local resident of Balochistan !
[quote]Sir: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had promised to the nation that it would change the present socio-political system in Balochistan. But after almost two years of the new government, there is no change visible and the law of the jungle still prevails in the province. Unfortunately, the sufferings of the Baloch nation have not ended.
Comment: The writer is a local resident of Balochistan !
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
Verdict reserved on Sharifs’ assets
Comment: And both of these brothers claim that they are working for the Aam Admi of Pakistan!
Shahnaz Latif had filed a petition, saying her brother Yousaf Aziz, a close relative of the Sharif brothers, had submitted a fake affidavit on her (petitioner’s) behalf in a case about distribution of the Ittefaq Group’s assets.
She said her brother had misled the court by counterfeiting her signatures on the affidavit.
Comment: And both of these brothers claim that they are working for the Aam Admi of Pakistan!
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
Pakis are smart and are playing the waiting game. They will wait till they have the Chinese have become used to sourcing their energy supplies through their port/corridor and have invested enough in developing its western region populated by Uighurs. That is when the Pakis will have the Chinese gonads in their hands and will start playing the double game it has so far played against the Americans and Saudis. Chinese will have no option but to keep on giving Jiziya (development aid) to the pakistani RAPES and Jernails.
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
20th April is the most important day in Pakistan's history.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/punjab/23- ... un-shahbaz
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/punjab/23- ... un-shahbaz
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Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
Nashnul burd haj gone rouje in bakistan taking furreign beeble like gadha-han together with eyetalian and jewish beebles with them. a US bresidential apolojy to the dead abducteej has happened. why not reported here?
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
ISI Asserts Total Control on Pakistan’s Policymaking
However, the ISI leadership had been previously unhappy with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to New Delhi to be at the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 26. In fact, the ISI had been extremely displeased with Nawaz Sharif after he spoke of talks with India soon after becoming the prime minister on June 5, 2013. In order to silence Nawaz Sharif with regard to his statements on India, a terror attack was carried out at the Indian consulate in Jalalabad in August, 2013.
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
And this is breaking neuj, after this has been the reality for many decades now? Just proves the adage "hydrogen is not the most abundant element in the universe."ISI Asserts Total Control on Pakistan’s Policymaking
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
http://brook.gs/1DmcTWnNo troops for Saudi, 10,000 for China. What are the Pakistanis thinking? Do they have pivot envy by Bruce Riedel
Looks more like Riedel and the rest of turds in Brookings Institution have Cheenis Envy.
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
The “Good” Haqqani writing in the Wall Street Journal in an article titled “Lowering Expectations for China’s Pakistan Push” on Deeper than Oceans, Higher than Himalaya’s, Sweeter than Honey, Iron Brother Xi Jinpeng’s announcement of USD 46 billion in investment for Pakistani infrastructure.
The "Good" Haqqani concludes his article with a caution for Xi Jinpeng :
Lowering Expectations for China’s Pakistan Push : Both sides have a history of promising more than they deliver.
The "Good" Haqqani concludes his article with a caution for Xi Jinpeng :
Read it all:He shouldn’t forget that money does not always buy Pakistan’s favor or encourage change in Pakistan’s policies. China may actually lose popularity in Pakistan once its companies arrive and demand primacy of economic considerations. Then China might find itself where Pakistan’s previous benefactor, the U.S., is today. After having provided $40 billion in aid to Pakistan since 1950, the U.S. is now viewed favorably by only 14% of Pakistanis.
Lowering Expectations for China’s Pakistan Push : Both sides have a history of promising more than they deliver.
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
Online visa application for Pakistani minorities - The Hindu
The Union Home Ministry has launched an online system for submission of long-term visa applications by members of the minority communities in Pakistan.
The move is being viewed as an initiative to grant citizenship to refugees from Pakistan.
“Such applications were earlier being accepted only through a manual system,” a Ministry official said. The applications can be submitted online through hyperlink indianfrro.gov.in/frro
The official said: “The decision has been taken to address concerns of the members of the minority communities in Pakistan who come to India with the intention to settle permanently. We have been constantly taking steps to streamline the procedures to facilitate their stay.”
“The new system will enable the applicants to monitor and track the status of their applications. It will also help in the speedy disposal of the applications. The manual system of submission of such applications will continue along with the online system for three months. However, from August 1, all applications would be received and processed online,” the official said.
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
Whole family strangles daughter...
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/punjab/24- ... s-daughter
The quality of the writing is indicative of the state of education in Pakistain.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/punjab/24- ... s-daughter
The quality of the writing is indicative of the state of education in Pakistain.
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
Chinese have delivered maximum 6 % & Paki claim What , Me and delivered .72%.arun wrote:The “Good” Haqqani writing in the Wall Street Journal in an article titled “Lowering Expectations for China’s Pakistan Push” on Deeper than Oceans, Higher than Himalaya’s, Sweeter than Honey, Iron Brother Xi Jinpeng’s announcement of USD 46 billion in investment for Pakistani infrastructure.owering Expectations for China’s Pakistan Push[/b] : Both sides have a history of promising more than they deliver.[/url]
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
From the paki paper tribune. Read the comments onlee, a real anal burnol moment.
Pakistani Hindus can now apply for long-term Indian visas online
Pakistani Hindus can now apply for long-term Indian visas online
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
I condom kufr JEM for defaming Pakistan and Islam. Pakistanis are 400% better at Pinglish than Yindians as certified by Mushy.JE Menon wrote:Whole family strangles daughter...
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/punjab/24- ... s-daughter
The quality of the writing is indicative of the state of education in Pakistain.
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
GoI's dead silence on Chinese projects in PoK is disturbing. Atleast make noise for the sake of making noise
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
Amen to that. Atleast one of the parties would surely suffer. But from what I see today, that day is few decades away.Vipul wrote:Pakis are smart and are playing the waiting game. They will wait till they have the Chinese have become used to sourcing their energy supplies through their port/corridor and have invested enough in developing its western region populated by Uighurs. That is when the Pakis will have the Chinese gonads in their hands and will start playing the double game it has so far played against the Americans and Saudis. Chinese will have no option but to keep on giving Jiziya (development aid) to the pakistani RAPES and Jernails.
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
Jingo here says, Chinese are building infrastructure for India onlee!Virendra wrote:GoI's dead silence on Chinese projects in PoK is disturbing. Atleast make noise for the sake of making noise
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
You want the GOI to display impotent rage? Potent silence even impotent silence is better than impotent rage.Virendra wrote:GoI's dead silence on Chinese projects in PoK is disturbing. Atleast make noise for the sake of making noise
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
On this proposed/on-going Chinese investment in Pakistan, China may have a few objectives. China may be using Pakistan as a test case to develop standard operating procedures for its 'Road & Belt' projects in other countries. Secondly, the Pakistani experiment, if successful, would not only become the template for other countries but actually encourage them to accept the Chinese forays and largesse with less hesitation. The Chinese may therefore be tempted to make it a grand success at all costs and they have not only a very obsequious Pakistan but also a beggar Pakistan whom no other country is interested in anyway. China knows that it has Pakistan by its scrotum. Then, of course, the Silk Road and the MSR are projects, along with AIIB, to increase the Chinese sphere of influence, act as a blunting force against the American Pivot and to destroy the influence of Bretton Woods organizations. China desperately wants the twin projects to succeed and one can expect Pakistan coming tightly under the Chinese (pun intended). To the Pakistanis, going tightly under is the usual thing to do, prone or supine. To that extent, the American leverage would diminish even further because Pakistan may not be much bothered if the IMF/WB/ADB loans do not materialize. In any case, Pakistan does not have much capacity to abbsorb anything more than these slew of Chinese projects if they fructify.
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
From NightWatch for the night of Apr 23, 2015
Pakistan-Saudi Arabia: Pakistani newspapers reported that Prime Minister Sharif, General Sharif and Minister of Defence Khawaja Asif had lunch with Saudi King Salman on the 23rd. The Prime Minister also met Yemen President Hadi.
Pakistani news services only reported that the Pakistanis briefed the King on Pakistan’s initiatives in support of the UN Security Council resolution on Yemen and that Pakistan supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom.
Pakistani news commentators judged that the outcome of today’s meetings and talks would determine Pakistan’s relationship with the Kingdom for years to come. They estimated that the Prime Minister and his men tried to persuade the King that Pakistan does not want to get involved militarily.
One commentator wrote that the Saudis would exert heavy pressure on Pakistan by means of incentives, including cash, oil on deferred payment, purchases of weapons and other incentives. The Pakistani delegation might have no choice but to offer one division of paramilitary soldiers drawn from the Pakistan Rangers and the Frontier Corps, with some Pakistan Army troops.
Comment: Prior to the visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Pakistanis had little leverage for resisting the Saudi demand for regular combat forces. China’s development assistance seems to have given them the fortitude to refuse the Saudi request.
However, the Chinese projects represent a long term vision for Pakistani development, whereas the Saudis help Pakistan in the present and the immediate future. Ultimately, the Pakistanis will find a solution that allows them to save face, while honoring the Saudi request. One suggestion is that Pakistani troops might replace Saudi military personnel along the border with Iraq, freeing the Saudis for Yemen operations.
Several conclusions seem clear. The Saudis want and are trying to prepare a ground intervention force for Yemen. They prefer a multinational force that includes Turks, Egyptians, soldiers from the Gulf states and Pakistanis. The Pakistanis will send troops to Saudi Arabia, but public accounts of their mission probably will be vague.
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
SSridhar garu,SSridhar wrote:On this proposed/on-going Chinese investment in Pakistan, China may have a few objectives. China may be using Pakistan as a test case to develop standard operating procedures for its 'Road & Belt' projects in other countries. Secondly, the Pakistani experiment, if successful, would not only become the template for other countries but actually encourage them to accept the Chinese forays and largesse with less hesitation. The Chinese may therefore be tempted to make it a grand success at all costs and they have not only a very obsequious Pakistan but also a beggar Pakistan whom no other country is interested in anyway. China knows that it has Pakistan by its scrotum. Then, of course, the Silk Road and the MSR are projects, along with AIIB, to increase the Chinese sphere of influence, act as a blunting force against the American Pivot and to destroy the influence of Bretton Woods organizations. China desperately wants the twin projects to succeed and one can expect Pakistan coming tightly under the Chinese (pun intended). To the Pakistanis, going tightly under is the usual thing to do, prone or supine. To that extent, the American leverage would diminish even further because Pakistan may not be much bothered if the IMF/WB/ADB loans do not materialize. In any case, Pakistan does not have much capacity to abbsorb anything more than these slew of Chinese projects if they fructify.
Simply the huge amount bandied around $46 billion is enough to get many mouths watering all over the globe. Considering that the amount is to be spent on a craphole like Pakistan, makes it even more tempting for other countries to try to warm up to the Chinese, as every country in the world considers themselves more qualified as a right-thinking race and as an investment destination.
The Chinese are coming and simply scooping up the American Randi and to make a point they even call that think-tank RANDI.
Chinese are trying to lock up Central Asia for India and USA by buying up Pakistan and bringing in Iran. That is a big move!
Gilgit-Baltistan now becomes an extremely strategic part of the world.
If Americans want to have their Randi back, they better think of facilitating its takeover by India. If Saudis have any sense, and want to keep Pakis out of Iranian influence, they too should ensure that PoK comes to India.
It's time for India to make a move on this!
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
See, kafirs can be unhappy onlee.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/p ... 137582.ece
https://www.cafonline.org/pdf/CAF_WGI20 ... BFinal.pdf
Pakistan is ranked 61st, India is ranked 69th in the World Giving Index.
PPS: I'm sure sending children to school makes them unhappy.
Pakistanis have so much more freedom to make life choices than Yindus.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/p ... 137582.ece
PS: Proof positive of the tiny hearts of IndiansIndians are less happy than their counterparts in Pakistan and Bangladesh, according to a report published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), which is a global initiative for the United Nations.
India comes in at the 117th spot out of 158 countries in the 2015 World Happiness Report. The report takes into account GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support and freedom to make life choices as indicators of happiness. India’s rank dropped six notches from the 2013 report, when it was on the 111th spot.
Pakistan is ranked 81 and Bangladesh, 109. Places like Ukraine (111), Palestine (108) and Iraq (112) too come up higher than India on the index.
https://www.cafonline.org/pdf/CAF_WGI20 ... BFinal.pdf
Pakistan is ranked 61st, India is ranked 69th in the World Giving Index.
PPS: I'm sure sending children to school makes them unhappy.
Pakistanis have so much more freedom to make life choices than Yindus.
Last edited by A_Gupta on 24 Apr 2015 16:59, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
The decision not to send ground troops is definitely going to impact the lives of Paki living in Saudi and other Gulf Sheikhdoms ; maybe Iran will pick up the slack !
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
no way, sirji.Falijee wrote:The decision not to send ground troops is definitely going to impact the lives of Paki living in Saudi and other Gulf Sheikhdoms ; maybe Iran will pick up the slack !
only the egyptians can and will do that, if such an opportunity opens up.
the saudis will not accept a large shia inflow that can easily destabilize the region.
Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22
Pak Reassurance - Edit in DT
It would be interesting to see how the two are received at the Riyadh airport/airbase. That would be an indicator of where things stand. Last time around, the King, his entourage and the entire cabinet was present to receive him !After a high level meeting to discuss Pakistan’s policy on the Yemen crisis, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif flew to Riyadh with COAS General Raheel Sharif and top ministers and officials on Thursday. Most observers ascribe this frequent ‘traffic’ to Saudi Arabia to the need Islamabad continues to feel to reassure Riyadh that it will stand by it in times of need. That, it seems, is proving a little more difficult than may have at first been envisaged. Saudi (and Gulf Arab) anger at Pakistan’s stance of neutrality in the Yemen conflict, flowing from the resolution of the joint sitting of parliament, does not seem to be abating. Hence the special visit of the younger Sharif recently has now been followed up by the top civil and military brass attempting to smooth Riyadh’s ruffled feathers. For the overly optimistic, it seemed as though the announcement of a halt to its air strikes and renaming its operations as ‘restoring hope’ signalled that Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies had come round to seeing the wisdom of Pakistan’s (and some other Muslim countries’) position. However, the fine print in Saudi Arabia’s announcement of a halt to the air campaign came into play just a day after the announcement of the halt when the Houthis captured an army base loyal to deposed president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi in the city of Taiz. Saudi and allied aircraft then struck the base, causing an indeterminate number of casualties. On the ground too, fighting between the Houthis and their allies and Hadi’s forces continues fiercely. Despite all the talk of a pause (if not ceasefire) making room for political negotiations between the warring factions, the ground situation is fraught and not easily amenable to a turn away from the language of weapons to the weapon of language. Desirable as it may, as often happens in such wars, a political solution remains a tough ask.
Peace plans abound ad are proliferating. Oman has a seven-point one that seeks the restoration of Hadi and the retreat of the Houthi forces from the cities they have captured. That sounds like a non-starter. The ground situation has moved way beyond any such solution or even the contemplation of it. The UN and Iran want a ceasefire, followed by negotiations. This at least has some element of practicability since it recognizes the near impossibility of imposing a retreat on any side from the positions it currently holds. Again, as is the inevitable fallout of civil wars because of the collapse of anything resembling central authority or a state, the humanitarian crisis is, according to the UN, “catastrophic”. The dead number nearly a thousand already since the Saudi air offensive began last month, the internally displaced (officially) are at least 150,000, those whose lives are threatened by war as well as starvation, lack of healthcare, etc, may well be more than a million and a half. For a comparatively small and poor country like Yemen, this is not far short of Armageddon.
The muscularity of the Saudi and Arab coalition response to the rapid advance of the Houthis is being ascribed to the apprehensions of Iran’s spreading influence in the region, especially into Arab countries (Iraq, Syria, Lebanon are quoted as examples). This lends itself to sectarian interpretations despite the fact that in Yemen at least, the play of contending forces is far more complex than this simple binary may suggest. However, there is talk in Arab capitals of shedding at last the security blanket of the US and assuming responsibility for their own defence and security. A joint Arab military force for just such contingencies has been mooted. Of course such ideas may take time to assume practical form. What is indisputable however, is the growing self-confidence and ambition of Saudi Arabia to translate its oil clout into military means that will allow it to lead a coalition of Arab countries to scotch any dissent or rebellion in the countries of the allies in the coalition and even perhaps further abroad. To assume, in other words, the role of the policeman not only of the Gulf but the wider region.{The Saudi establishment must be chewing lots and lots of khat to imagine like that about themselves and their rag-tag armed forces} This ambition goes far beyond the relatively simple sectarian divide and is a manifesto of pure power play. It may also be informed by the exposure of the US as the greatest military power on earth but a colossus with feet of clay stemming from eroding political will to physically (militarily) police the world, a role it took on after the Second World War and which some quote as the reason for its decline, eventual or sudden, the jury is out on. In such a volatile region as ours, let alone the world at large, countries like ours need to cut their cloth according to their capabilities and not surrender to expedient considerations that may later come back to haunt us.