Publication

This brief discusses Pakistan's April 2015 decision not to support Saudi Arabia in its war in Yemen and what it demonstrates about Islamabad's relations with the Saudis and Iran. In general, the author suggests that the decision was groundbreaking in terms of historical geopolitical alignments as it demonstrated an unprecedented assertion of independence on the part of Pakistan. She also contends that the vote shows that Pakistan has no appetite for participating in a war that could affect the country´s relationship with Iran, inflame sectarian tensions at home and increase the threat of the Taliban and the so-called Islamic State.