Contours of Saudi alliance will shape up next month: Asif

Minister says ToRs of the military alliance not yet finalised

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday that the contours of the proposed Saudi Arabia-led Islamic military alliance to fight terrorism would shape up in a meeting of defence ministers of the member states which is expected next month.

Delivering a policy statement in the upper house of parliament, he tried to clear the ‘mist of confusion’ surrounding the Saudi-led alliance and Pakistan’s role in it. According to him, the terms of reference (ToRs) of the proposed alliance are yet to be finalised.

Asif said Pakistan would not become a part of any alliance created to foment sectarian strife in the region and added that it was also Pakistan’s duty to protect Saudi Arabia. “Pakistan will never become a part of any alliance which will be against any country, particularly if it is against any Muslim country,” he added.



In the same breath, the minister said he was sure that the proposed Saudi-led alliance was not against any country. He particularly mentioned neighbouring Iran and said Pakistan would always maintain brotherly ties with its southern neighbour.

The idea of the Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT) had been floated by Saudi Arabia's Minister of Defense in December 2015. Former army chief Gen (retd) Raheel Sharif has been named as the first commander-in-chief of the proposed multinational force.

The defence minister disclosed that Pakistan’s armed forces are already in Saudi Arabia under what he called an ‘arrangement’ of 1992.

“Their numbers keep on increasing and decreasing. Our navy and air force was also there till two years back,” the minister revealed, apparently referring to some arrangement made between the two countries at the time of the first Gulf war.



He said Pakistan was committed to internal defence of Saudi Arabia and Harmain Sharifain. “However, our forces will not be used against any Muslim country,” he said while citing the example of Yemen.

The minister shared with the Senate that Riyadh had written a letter requesting Pakistan to allow Gen (retd) Raheel Sharif to head the alliance. The government responded that the former army chief could be sent to join it whenever the Middle Eastern country was in need, he added.

“Pakistan is the only nuclear state of the Muslim world. We will continue to use this status for mediation in case any issues arise between Muslim countries and use our diplomatic channels [to settle them],” he remarked.

He said given the multi-sect population dynamics of Pakistan, the government was fully cognisant that Pakistan could not become a part of any move that beget sectarian strife.



The minister made it clear that Raheel Sharif has yet to apply to his ministry for an NoC to lead the Saudi-led alliance's force. “The question of his applying for the NoC does not arise at this stage,” he said.

According to the minister, as per law if an ex-serviceman has to take up another job within two years after his retirement, he has to get an NoC from the Ministry of Defence.

The same procedure was followed when former ISI chief Gen (retd) Shuja Pasha joined a job in the UAE soon after his retirement during the previous PPP government.



The minister said once the NOC is issued to Raheel Sharif, he would inform parliament accordingly.

“The ToRs of this alliance has not been finalised yet. A meeting of defence ministers of all 41 members of proposed alliance is expected in Saudi Arabia in May. After this ToRs will be decided. As of today it is an alliance against terrorism and this will be translated in the ToRs,” he remarked.

Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani observed that once the ToRs of the proposed alliance are finalised the government would be bound to table them in the two houses of parliament before the cabinet ratifies them. The minister promised to do that.