Jan 02 , 2016
News
Saudi FM expected to visit Pakistan to discuss 34-nation coalition
ISLAMABAD - The Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir will arrive in Islamabad on Sunday for a two-day official visit to hold important meetings with Pakistani leadership.
It will be his first visit to Pakistan since he assumed the office on April 2015.
The media reports said that during his visit the military coalition of 34-Islamic countries under Saudi Arabia’s leadership would be brought under discussion. He would also discuss bilateral relations, regional and international issues of mutual interest with Pakistani top-ups.
On December 14 last year, the Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Muhammad bin Salman told a news conference that 34 Muslim countries had formally agreed to form a military coalition to fight terrorism.
Later on December 16, Pakistan welcomed the formation of the 34-nation Saudi Arabia-led alliance against terrorism, saying that it had consistently supported all regional and international efforts to combat militancy, extremism and terrorism.
“Pakistan welcomes the formation of the 34-nation alliance to counter terrorism and is awaiting further details to decide the extent of its participation in different activities of the alliance,” the Foreign Office Spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said.
Later on December 23, Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz told journalists at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad that Pakistan would decide to join the alliance after consultation with Saudi Arabia. He also said that involvement of Pakistan in the alliance was of “voluntary nature.” “Participation of Pakistan in Saudi-led 34-nation coalition against terrorism is of voluntary nature and Pakistan will decide to join this alliance with total support and accordance with its requirements and priorities,” Sartaj said.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk