ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – Just a day after Saudi Arabia announced a 34-country Islamic military alliance to combat terrorism, Islamabad had asked its diplomatic office in Riyadh to seek clarification from Saudi officials over Pakistan’s inclusion in coalition without any consultation.
Talking to newsmen federal foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhry also said that he greatly surprised by the news of Pakistan’s inclusion in a Saudi-led anti-terrorism alliance. We have asked our ambassador in Riyadh to approach Saudi Arabia and ask them to clarify the announcement, he added.
Media reports further suggested this was not the first when Saudi Arabia included Pakistan’s name in an alliance with prior consultations with sole Muslim nuclear state.
Earlier this year, when Arab nations began airstrikes in Yemen the Saudi Arabia published Pakistani flag showing it as an ally in the war. However Pakistani government refused to send in the ground troops or even the air force in Yemen.
Moreover Pakistani military has time and again clearly refused to join any fight outside its territory, even when it was asked to join fight against Islamic State group in middle east during General raheel Sharif’s visit to Washington.
According to a statement of army spokesman the sympathisers of IS had came to Pakistan in a time when nation has already witnessed the evil of extremism, and hence these people were badly rejected by Pakistani nation.
Saudi Arabia had announced Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Turkey, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, Djibouti, Senegal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Gabon, Guinea, Palestine, Comoros, Qatar, Cote d’Ivoire, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Maldives, Mali, Malaysia, Egypt, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Yemen; as part of a 34-country alliance which will have its contrl centre in Riyad according to the statement.
Interestingly Iran was not included in countries mentioned in the statement, which further added “more than ten other Islamic countries have expressed their support for this alliance and will take the necessary measures in this regard, including Indonesia.”
