Pakistan Under Scrutiny for Planned Troop Deployment in Saudi Arabia

"Mr. Speaker, as you know, Saudis themselves are embroiled in the war [against the Shiite Houthi rebels] and it is not reaching any conclusion," observed Shireen Mazari of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

She demanded the government explain terms and conditions of the security pact with Saudis and the type of missions Pakistani troops will undertake there.

"How and on what grounds the government took the decision, or was this decision not taken by the government as such but it was just part of a routine that the military decided to send more troops?" Mazari asked.

The lawmaker was indirectly referring to widespread perception in Pakistan that the powerful military, and not the civilian government, makes key foreign policy decisions when it comes to dealing with countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United States, Afghanistan and rival India.

Ties to Iran

Pakistan has decided to deploy troops at a time when Iran-backed Houthis have increased missile attacks against Saudi targets, though the country's air defense system intercepted and destroyed most of the rockets and prevented any damage.

While Sunni-dominated Pakistan has deep economic, religious and military ties to Saudi Arabia, it shares a porous border with Iran, stretching 900 kilometers. A fifth of its more than 200 million residents are Shiite Muslims who maintain close cultural and religious ties with Iran.

Critics warn that Islamabad's military engagement could upset the country's minority Shiite community and undermine bilateral relations with Tehran.

Pakistani officials in background interviews, however, dismissed those concerns and told VOA that Iran "has been taken into confidence" with regard to sending troops to Saudi Arabia. They cited a recent visit to Tehran by Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, where he discussed the matter with the Iranian leadership.

Political commentator and television talk show host, Talat Hussain, questioned the army's statement that Pakistani troops will not be employed outside Saudi Arabia.

"It fools no one to say [troops] won't leave Kingdom boundaries. Saudi-Iran are fighting. Iran-Israel are fighting. In the middle of it are now are our contingents. This will have long-term implications," Hussain wrote on his Twitter account.