by SYED SALEEM SHAHZAD
A step in this direction is Pakistan’s decision to keep two army divisions on standby for deployment to Saudi Arabia in the event of trouble there. This followed a visit by Saudi Prince and secretary general of the National Security Council Prince Bandar Bin Sultan to Pakistan.
…
The advertisement for Pakistanis to join Bahrain’s National Guard was published about three weeks ago in a mass-circulation Urdu-language newspaper. Since then, the process of recruitment has continued unabated.
According to investigations by Asia Times Online, the recruits have been promised 100,000 Pakistani rupees (US$1,174) a month, beside other perks including free medical and accommodation. People with names that have a traditional Shi’ite ring – such as Syed, Abbas, Ali and Hussain – are being overlooked.
…
Diplomatic moves
Backchannel talks on Turkey’s position are the most important component before Pakistan jumps into the Middle East crisis. Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party had been in favor of the Arab uprisings, but the Libyan crisis has forced Ankara to think again.
…
The Muslim Brotherhood, which had been suppressed in Libya, has sprung up as a strong and organized political force and is actively collaborating with the Jamiat al-Muqatala, an armed opposition group that is not shy to show its affiliation with al-Qaeda.
Strengthened with looted weapons of the Libyan armed forces, these Islamists have apparently smuggled a large cache of weapons to Tunisia and Egypt, where the Muslim Brotherhood and its sympathizers of armed groups have also re-emerged.
Asia Times Online for more