Saudi-led alliance not aimed against any country: Tehmina

Foreign secretary says Pakistan considers ties with both Iran, Saudi Arabia important

ISLAMABAD: Just days after Iran went public with its concerns over former army chief General (retd) Raheel Sharif’s possible role in the Saudi-led counter terrorism alliance, Pakistan on Tuesday clarified that the purpose of 41-nation coalition was to fight terrorism and was not against any country.

The clarification came from newly appointed foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua, who briefed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs about the reason behind the government’s move to allow former army chief to head the Saudi-led alliance.

Responding to the reservations of Iran, Tehmina pointed out that the alliance was not against any specific country including Iran, therefore, no one should be concerned over it.



She made it clear that Pakistan attached great importance to its relationship with both Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Her statement came amid concerns that Pakistan’s decision to grant permission to Gen Raheel to head the coalition might affect its policy of ‘neutrality’ on Middle East.

Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and member of the committee Shah Mahmood Qureshi said there was lack of clarity on part of the foreign office over the Saudi military alliance.

The former foreign minister urged the government to follow a careful approach and warned that Pakistan must not take sides in Iran-Arab issues.

Veteran politician Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao questioned the wisdom behind the government’s decision to join the alliance without first determining the main objective of such an initiative.



Allaying fears of members of the committee, the foreign secretary said that Pakistan’s approach remained to encourage both countries to resolve their differences saying Gen Raheel would not act against Iran as head of the military alliance.

She said Oman, who enjoyed close ties both with Iran and Saudi Arabia, had become the latest country to join the alliance. “Like Oman, Pakistan’s is also seeking harmony among the Muslim countries,” she added.

Chairman of the Committee Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said there were only two countries with which Pakistan had strategic relationship. Those two countries, he said, are Saudi Arabia and China.

Leghari insisted that Pakistan’s decision to join the Saudi alliance was not against any country, particularly against Iran.

He pointed out that over the last 15 months there had been unprecedented exchanges between Pakistan and Iran at the highest level. “This shows that Pakistan values its relationship with Iran,” the committee chairman said.

The Tuesday’s meeting was the first of a series of sittings before the Parliamentary panel formulates its policy recommendations for improving ties with Iran.

Leghari told The Express Tribune that the Foreign Affairs Committee would travel to Tehran in May at the invitation of Iranian counterparts. He said the committee members along with Iranian counterparts would visit Chahbahar port and then travel to Gwadar.

He said the visit was in line with the decision of both the countries to declare Chahbhar and Gwadar as sister ports.