A friend in need …

National Security Adviser Lt-Gen Nasir Janjua (retd) has clearly and unambiguously explained why the PML-N government allowed former army chief Gen Raheel Sharif to lead the Saudi-led military alliance.

According to him, the Saudis had included the name of Pakistan in the alliance without its consent, leaving Islamabad with no option but to allow the former army chief to lead the alliance.

“We’d no option but to join the alliance as the Saudis were not ready to accept any other retired general or even a serving general of Pakistan except Raheel Sharif… we’d two options either to deteriorate our relations with them [Saudis] which we [obviously] not possible or to accept whatever they say,” a Business Recorder news item quoted him as saying.

The National Security Adviser did not mention an equally important reason behind Pakistan’s acquiescence: Worker remittances. Last but not least, from Pakistan’s perspective,

Saudi Arabia is a friend who helps at a difficult time. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Karachi Shahid Masood