Saudi-led military alliance not against any country, says Pak foreign secretary

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua said on 4 April Islamabad remains committed to its policy of non-interference in the conflicts of Muslim countries.

She gave the assurance during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs which discussed the issue of clearance given to former army chief retired General Raheel Sharif to lead the Saudi-led 39-nation Islamic military alliance and Pakistan's relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran.

"The Islamic [military] alliance is against terrorism, not any [specific] country," Janjua said in response to a question by committee chairman Awais Leghari.

She was addressing concerns that Islamabad's decision to send the former army chief to lead the alliance will complicate the already fraught Pak-Iran ties.

The Dawn quoted Janjua, as saying that Pakistan is making efforts to reduce the tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

"It is difficult for Pakistan to maintain equal relations with both countries but Pakistan will not go against Iran's interests," she assured the panel.

General Raheel Sharif will not act against Iran as the head of the military alliance, she asserted.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) Shireen Mazari and Shah Mehmood Qureshi raised concerns that the Foreign Office's (FO) statements regarding the Saudi military coalition are contradictory and said that Pakistan must make careful decisions regarding the Islamic alliance.

The PTI leaders were of the view that a tilt towards either side in Pakistan's ties with Saudi Arabia and Iran is not advisable.

Meanwhile, Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao questioned why Pakistan had agreed to become a member of the coalition without first finding out the aims and objectives of the alliance.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua said Tuesday Islamabad remains committed to its policy of non-interference in the conflicts of Muslim countries.

She gave the assurance during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs which discussed the issue of clearance given to former army chief retired General Raheel Sharif to lead the Saudi-led 39-nation Islamic military alliance and Pakistan's relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran.

"The Islamic [military] alliance is against terrorism, not any [specific] country," Janjua said in response to a question by committee chairman Awais Leghari.

She was addressing concerns that Islamabad's decision to send the former army chief to lead the alliance will complicate the already fraught Pak-Iran ties.

The Dawn quoted Janjua, as saying that Pakistan is making efforts to reduce the tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

"It is difficult for Pakistan to maintain equal relations with both countries but Pakistan will not go against Iran's interests," she assured the panel.

General Raheel Sharif will not act against Iran as the head of the military alliance, she asserted.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) Shireen Mazari and Shah Mehmood Qureshi raised concerns that the Foreign Office's (FO) statements regarding the Saudi military coalition are contradictory and said that Pakistan must make careful decisions regarding the Islamic alliance.

The PTI leaders were of the view that a tilt towards either side in Pakistan's ties with Saudi Arabia and Iran is not advisable.

Meanwhile, Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao questioned why Pakistan had agreed to become a member of the coalition without first finding out the aims and objectives of the alliance.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua said Tuesday Islamabad remains committed to its policy of non-interference in the conflicts of Muslim countries.

She gave the assurance during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs which discussed the issue of clearance given to former army chief retired General Raheel Sharif to lead the Saudi-led 39-nation Islamic military alliance and Pakistan's relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran.

"The Islamic [military] alliance is against terrorism, not any [specific] country," Janjua said in response to a question by committee chairman Awais Leghari.

She was addressing concerns that Islamabad's decision to send the former army chief to lead the alliance will complicate the already fraught Pak-Iran ties.

The Dawn quoted Janjua, as saying that Pakistan is making efforts to reduce the tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

"It is difficult for Pakistan to maintain equal relations with both countries but Pakistan will not go against Iran's interests," she assured the panel.

General Raheel Sharif will not act against Iran as the head of the military alliance, she asserted.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) Shireen Mazari and Shah Mehmood Qureshi raised concerns that the Foreign Office's (FO) statements regarding the Saudi military coalition are contradictory and said that Pakistan must make careful decisions regarding the Islamic alliance.

The PTI leaders were of the view that a tilt towards either side in Pakistan's ties with Saudi Arabia and Iran is not advisable.

Meanwhile, Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao questioned why Pakistan had agreed to become a member of the coalition without first finding out the aims and objectives of the alliance.

-ANI