Pakistan Belatedly Approves Military Hero To Head Polarizing Saudi-Led Sunni Alliance — Move Will Harden Sunni / Shiite Tensions In Pakistan & Throughout Muslim World

The alliance does not include predominately Shiite states like Iran and Iraq, making it more of a Sunni military alliance than an “Islamic” one. Tehreek-e-Insaf party, led by Imran Khan, below, has been at the forefront of opposing the decision, saying it could widen the Sunni-Shiite divide in the country, and upset Iran, its majority-Shiite neighbor to the west. Pakistan is predominantly Sunni, like Saudi Arabia, but Shiites make up about 20% of the population and have often been targeted by extremist Sunni militants. Above, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, with General Raheel Sharif, in fatigues, with Saddam-style mustache.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, led by Imran Khan, has been at the forefront of opposing the decision,

saying it could widen the Sunni-Shiite divide in Pakistan and upset Iran, its majority-Shiite neighbor to the west.

The party says it will raise the issue in the next session of Parliament later this month.

“We strongly advocate the policy of impartiality as far as conflicts in the Middle East and Muslim world are concerned,” Khan said.

“We under no circumstances should fall into any conflict, and hence be watchful of the impacts of every decision or choice we make.”

And on the country’s rambunctious political talk shows, guests have been vigorously debating the appointment of Sharif,

who was hugely popular for his successes against Taliban militants before retiring last year,

with many expressing criticism and apprehension.

Pakistan is a predominantly Sunni country, like Saudi Arabia,

but Shiites make up about 20 percent of the population and have often been targeted by extremist Sunni militants.

Raheel Sharif, center right in uniform and mustache, with Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, center left, in November. Raheel Sharif, a retired general, was hugely popular for his successes against Taliban militants.

Saudi Arabia is a major donor to Pakistan and maintains close ties with its civil and military elite.

It has appealed to Pakistan for military help with its campaign in Yemen against the Houthi rebels,

who are aligned with Iran and belong to the Zaydi Shiite sect.

But Pakistan has so far stayed out of the operation, which is being conducted by Saudi Arabia and a smaller coalition of Arab countries.

Egypt, too, has turned down requests for help in Yemen despite receiving considerable financial aid from Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan’s Parliament passed a resolution in 2015 urging the government to stay neutral in Yemen,

where more than 10,000 people have been killed, mainly in airstrikes, since Saudi Arabia began its campaign.

So far, the government has complied,

but its inability to rally support behind the Saudi military effort has been embarrassing for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,

who lived in exile in the Saudi city of Jidda in the early 2000s.

(Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister, is not related to the former army chief, Raheel.)

Now, the former army chief’s presence at the head of the Islamic Military Alliance could signal a change in policy, analysts say.

Sharif’s appointment “is a bit of a departure from Pakistan’s more-or-less neutral position on the Iran-Saudi regional war,” said Arif Rafiq, a political analyst.

“As a result, it’s been opposed by even the mainstream, nonsectarian political voices in Pakistan.”

Rafiq said the impact on sectarian relations in Pakistan was still uncertain.

If the alliance “confronts Iran or Iranian-supported groups in places like Yemen, then it could trigger protests inside Pakistan,” he said.

“On the other hand, if it is merely a symbolic coalition that limits itself to Saudi territory or focuses on combating ISIS,

then the negative impact would be minimal,” he added, referring to the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIL.

The establishment of the Islamic Military Alliance was announced in December 2015 by Saudi Arabia’s deputy crown prince and defense minister, Mohammed bin Salman.

It had 34 state members at the start and has since acquired several others.

The coalition fighting in Yemen is a smaller group of Arab countries.

Imran Khan, the head of Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party, in 2015. The party has opposed the appointment of Sharif to head the Saudi-led Islamic Military Alliance.

Pakistan’s approval of Sharif’s appointment two months after its announcement suggested some hesitation by the government.

For Sharif, the controversy has taken some luster off the popular image he enjoyed

as a result a successful campaign against Taliban militants that began in 2014,

clearing militant strongholds in northwest Pakistan.

The general’s popularity overshadowed that of the civilian government, which has been troubled by corruption allegations.

He was widely perceived as influencing foreign policy decisions and relations with neighbors, and indirectly pressuring government over political matters.

Last year, there were widespread calls for the general to take over the government, instead of retiring when his term expired in November.

Since the news broke of his future job, he has maintained his characteristic silence,

frustrating critics who wonder what his appointment means and the objectives of the military alliance.

“As a retired military chief seeking a high-profile job that will likely involve a great deal of shuttle diplomacy,

why is General Raheel not seeking the government’s approval to address the media and respond to the misgivings in person?”

an editorial in Dawn, the country’s leading English daily, asked.

“Surely addressing the nation’s concerns ought to be the priority.”

The newspaper said the “clandestine manner” in which the government handled the general’s appointment had created the impression of a “secret deal.”

[ This is especially so because of the history of corruption among Pakistani generals who went on to become politically powerful. ]

Pervez Musharraf, a former army chief who ruled Pakistan as president from 2001 to 2008, was hugely popular as a general —

but faced a backlash once he shed his uniform and dabbled in politics.

Sharif’s predecessor, Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, was also highly regarded,

but became a figure of controversy after he extended his military term

as corruption allegations swirled around his family.

Sharif, on the other hand, remains untainted by charges of corruption or nepotism.

“I think Raheel Sharif will be forever remembered in Pakistan as the man who boldly took on the Pakistani Taliban,” Rafiq, the analyst, said.

“Many Pakistanis feel that he literally saved the country and restored its morale.”

Source: Pakistan Approves Military Hero to Head Tricky Saudi-Led Alliance – The New York Times