Pakistan’s strategic shift
Dr. Jassim Taqui
Following months of debate and oscillation, the civil-military leadership reached to a strategic verdict. Now, Pakistan is an active member of the Saudi-led Islamic Alliance to fight terrorism. This decision has been demonstrated practically by taking part into the military exercise “ Ra’sad Al Shamal” or North Thunder.
The Saudis are in state of ecstasy. The exercise is described as one of the biggest in war games’ history. There are rumors indicating that the alliance is being converted into a NATO-like Muslim military force. With nuclear Pakistan as an active member, the alliance would be formidable. It is deemed to send a message to all and sundry that at last the Muslims are resurrected in an era of immense challenges to their very identity.
People whisper that Pakistan would receive $12 billion grant from Saudi Arabia in lieu of leading the alliance. If so, one hopes that the grant should be spent on poverty alleviation, unemployment IDPs , education and health.
By all account, this change of policy is considered an historic and serious shift of Pakistan’s strategy especially when the government had earlier stated that Pakistan would abide by the principle of “no boot on the ground.”
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