A section of media is portraying doomsday scenario on the news of Gen (retd) Raheel Sharif’s joining of Islamic military alliance. This requires blunt debunking.
Tantrums are being thrown because the kingdom is traditionally seen as hostile to Iran. While Iran and Saudi Arabia should settle their differences mutually, Pakistan must take full advantage of this golden opportunity and must not fall prey to so-called Iranian sympathisers in the media. Heading a military coalition of 39 Islamic countries must be a matter of pride for Pakistan. Saudi Arabia has always backed Pakistan both monetarily and diplomatically. It doled out $1.5 billion to Pakistan when Pakistan’s forex reserves were historically low. Iran on the other hand has always stabbed Pakistan. Iran provided Pakistani designs of Pakistani centrifuges to IAEA during Musharraf regime when pressure mounted on Iran to cap its nuke program. Iran never supported Pakistan on Afghan issue and partnered with India. Both Iran and India are hostile to CPEC and Pakistani efforts of economically uplifting Balochistan. The move will certainly thwart Indian efforts to isolate Pakistan internationally and allow Pakistan to use this clout against India diplomatically.
Umar Taj
Karachi
