Aftab Alam

Pakistan now finds itself in a very awkward position. If Saudi Arabia declares war on Iran, under the terms of their military agreement, Pakistan would be obligated to declare war on Iran as well. Yet this is clearly not what Pakistan was intended for. In fact, the treaty was largely designed with Israel as a common potential adversary—not to make Pakistan a de facto ally of Israel. What's more, China would strongly oppose Pakistan declaring war on Iran, and the majority of Pakistan's weapons come from China. Pakistan also has its own concerns to worry about, namely India and Afghanistan. So, all things considered, Pakistan would not enage something real, and even if Pakistan were to declare war on Iran, it would most likely be limited to targeting the Balochistan region inside Iran—where the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a group that continuously stirs up trouble inside Pakistan, has its hideouts.

"If I get angry and have to break the law, I will marry a sixteen-year-old girl," says Hafiz Hamdullah. An upper house member of the Pakistani Parliament should avoid making such irresponsible statements, as they increase the vulnerability of the already marginalized gender.