- Saudi-led IMCTC poses testing challenges
The moving spirit behind the 41-nation Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, has shown on various occasions that he possess a strong will, and now he has had his way. ‘Allied against Terror’, the anti-terror coalition midwifed by him, took off on Sunday in Riyadh with defence ministers of 40 attending states given a sweeping pep talk on closer coordination in fighting extremism, sending a clear signal of resolve to eliminate terrorism, and reversing the damage done to Islam’s peaceful image by this barbarous aberration. The Terms of Reference which were unveiled on the occasion reportedly provide sufficient room for maneuver for countries such as Pakistan (in particular) which maintains close ties with Iran and have a long shared border with it, to determine the degree of their participation.
Former COAS Gen Raheel Sharif’s appointment as force commander already confirms a deeper than usual involvement, and he carries a grave responsibility to avoid being pushed to tread on friendly toes. In his statement he rightly stressed that the alliance was not directed against any particular country or sect, and the end was to assist member countries, deficient in arms, finances or resources, to better combat terrorism through intelligence-sharing and capacity building. It is a somewhat optimistic thesis.
Pakistan has made it clear its troops would only be sent in defence of the Kingdom and the Holy Places, and would not participate in fighting against another Islamic country. The Crown Prince was the driving force behind the Yemen war, now a globally condemned humanitarian disaster, harbours an intense animosity towards Iran, was possibly involved in Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s shock resignation, while with Qatar he is embroiled in a psychological war of nerves for political dominance. Sunni Qatar was obviously absent from Sunday’s meet, as indeed were Shia Iran, Syria and Iraq. He recently called the Iranian Supreme Leader, ‘new Hitler of the Middle East’, and was rewarded with an unflattering verbal riposte. All these actions and war of words raise many perplexing questions, except in gleeful Israel, which has been terrorising the helpless Palestinian people for seven decades.
The editor needs to watch a video of the whole conference again and see each countries defence minister including Yemens to find the answer to his question. This is a great initiative taken by Muslim countries especially Egypt, Turkey, Libya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Pakistan and Sudan who are directly fighting the likes of ISIS, ISIL, Taliban and Al Qaida. The editor should also through some light as to why Iran has no terrorist attacks or terrorist groups on its soil while countries all around it suffer? And why did Kulbushan Vadev and other terrorists have bases in Iran or are supported by their border guards?
The editor needs to watch a video of the whole conference again and see each countries defence ministers speech including Yemens to find the answer to his question. This is a great initiative taken by Muslim countries especially Egypt, Turkey, Libya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Pakistan and Sudan who are directly fighting the likes of ISIS, ISIL, Taliban and Al Qaida. The editor should also through some light as to why Iran has no terrorist attacks or terrorist groups on its soil while countries all around it suffer? And why did Kulbushan Vadev and other terrorists have bases in Iran or are supported by their border guards?
Please stop this. Saudi Arabia offered Iran to join the coalition but Iran refused while Iraqi & Syrian Governments cannot contribute their forces because they are busy in their own country but maybe IMCTC can help them rather than NATO helping them because NATO only worsens the situation.
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