- Sartaj says no ToRs or mechanism developed by now for military coalition
- General Raheel’s presence in league may ensure some sort of balance
Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Thursday assured the Senate that Pakistan would adopt a balanced policy in line with the recommendations of the parliament with regards its participation in the Saudi-led Islamic Military Coalition.
In response to a Calling Attention Notice, he said that the 34-member countries alliance was announced in December 2015 but later it was redefined as the Islamic Military Coalition as clarified by the Saudi minister for foreign affairs. Sartaj said it was clarified during the framing mechanism that every member would be free to decide its participation in any activity by its free will and without any compulsion.
He said that any member can opt for an area like training, consultation or military action as per its desire. Replying to questions by Senator Farhatullah Babar, he said that no terms of reference (ToRs) or programmes and mechanism had been developed for the coalition by now.
Therefore, “there is also no question for ratification,” he said, adding that the government remains committed to take the parliament into confidence prior to ratification of any such ToRs or mechanisms. He said that any informal statement by an authority or official cannot be taken as ToRs or the mechanisms.
“The formal position is that no ToRs or purposes have been yet finalised,” he told the lawmakers. He explained that Pakistan’s policy on this matter was as per guidelines of the parliament on April 10, 2015. “We are having a balanced position in our relations with friendly countries yet we remain committed to maintain territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as protection of the Holy Places,” he said.
The adviser said that the matter should not be raised on simply an assumption as the journal to which the member has quoted in the Calling Attention Notice has also written that ToRs would be finalised when the defence ministers would meet. On the appointment of former chief of army staff General Raheel Sharif, he said that he had vast experience to fight against terrorism.
“His (Raheel) appointment with the coalition will have no effect on our foreign policy rather his presence there may ensure some sort of balance,” he said. When Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani questioned with regards to Saudi king’s statement about Iran, the adviser said that Iran has been mentioned in the resolution, but it does not mean that all the countries were joining for an action against Iran.
“These are hypothetical questions as there would be choice for members to join an activity,” the adviser told the House. He also said that it was a sad situation that Muslims nations were confronting one another. “We shall have to be extra careful in such a situation,” he said.
