00:00Well, Pakistan's Prime Minister will address the United Nations later.
00:04Malia Lodi is former Pakistan ambassador to the United States
00:08and former permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations.
00:13I think ever since it began its mediatory role
00:16in trying to bring about a ceasefire between the US and Iran,
00:21which it did contribute to,
00:23Pakistan has already elevated its position
00:26as a very serious geopolitical player,
00:29as a very important country on the international stage
00:32and a country that brings special skills to diplomacy and to peacemaking.
00:39You will know there's also a major security development
00:42on the sidelines of this United Nations General Assembly,
00:46Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan,
00:48planning an urgent meeting of their military chiefs
00:51to discuss support for Saudi Arabia under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement.
00:57Just how significant is that?
01:01I think it's important because of what is happening in the Middle East.
01:06I think the clashes between the Houthis and the Saudis,
01:10or the Saudi-backed government in Yemen,
01:14clearly is a source of great anxiety for Saudi Arabia.
01:18So I think some of the discussion that will take place in this upcoming meeting,
01:24although we don't know where it would be held and when it would be held,
01:27the foreign ministers, of course,
01:29of the three countries that are parties to the Mecca Defense Accord
01:33have already met in New York on the sidelines of Anga.
01:38But we have to wait and see what the military chiefs are expected to do.
01:42Is there an ask from the Saudi side?
01:45If so, what is it?
01:47Because the one thing I think that should be clear
01:50is that Pakistan will not jump into a conflict.
01:56It is there to help the Saudi government in its defense.
02:02But that doesn't mean that it will get actively involved
02:05in the conflict that is going on between the Houthis
02:08and Saudi Arabia's, you know, their backed forces in Yemen.
02:12I mean, you say Pakistan doesn't want to jump into a conflict.
02:16I mean, Pakistan, as we've been discussing,
02:19has been advocating diplomacy and de-escalation in the Middle East.
02:22But is there a tension between playing the role of mediator
02:26and perhaps potentially becoming militarily involved
02:31through this defense agreement,
02:34whether it's intended or accidental?
02:38Well, I think it will knock out Pakistan's role as a mediator
02:42because if Pakistan takes sides,
02:44then it cannot continue to function as a mediator.
02:49So I think Pakistan is very well aware
02:51that it should be very cautious and careful
02:55that whatever it does in accordance with the Makkah Agreement
03:00and the Makkah Defense Pact
03:02should not compromise its role
03:05because that's an extremely important role
03:07in trying to bring about some kind of,
03:10you know, serious negotiations
03:11between the U.S. and Iran.
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