Pakistan Army won't be deployed outside Saudi Arabia, clarifies Sartaj Aziz
IMC is only focusing on elimination terrorism from the region, said Sartaj Aziz.
ISLAMABAD (Daily Dunya) - Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has clarified that army troops would not be deployed outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as Pakistan is committed to protect territorial integrity of Harmain Sharifain..
Making a policy statement in the Senate, Sartaj Aziz said that this impression is not right that Saudi-led Islamic Military Coalition (IMC) will attack Iran as it is not only focusing on elimination of terrorist organizations like ISIS and Al-Qaeda but it will also take action against the rebel groups posing threat to any member country.
Responding to call-attention notice of Senator Farhatullah Babar, the advisor said that former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Raheel Sharif, who is leading military alliance, also has a sense of maintaining relation with Iran while his participation would keep balance in the coalition.
The Senator has urged the authorities to present the Terms of References (ToRs) pertaining to Pakistan’s participation in IMC for discussion in the parliament before sending them to Federal Cabinet for approval.
Aziz further insisted that Saudi Arabia’s anti-Iran remarks and the final declaration of last week’s Arab-US summit were of a political nature.
Responding to another calling attention notice moved by Sehar Kamran, Sartaj Aziz said that activities of India very close to Pakistan’s border in Afghanistan are a source of concern for Islamabad. He said India is continuing supporting subversive activities in Pakistan.
He said arrest of Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadav and reported deaths of some Indians in the recent blast in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, which is very close to Pakistan’s border, clearly shows continuing Indian presence in the neighbouring country, which is orchestrating terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
He said this state terrorism by India is condemnable and needs to end forthwith. He said Pakistan is cognizant of the nefarious designs of New Delhi and is actively taking complete action in this regard. He said Islamabad has effectively highlighted Indian interference in Pakistan at the international forum.
Sartaj Aziz said Indian atrocities in the Indian occupied Kashmir are continuing unabated and have intensified after the extra judicial killing of Kashmiri freedom fighter Burhan Wani. He said Pakistan strongly condemns Indian barbaric activities in Kashmir.
He said Pakistan will continue its diplomatic, moral, and political support to the people of Kashmir in their just struggle for right to self-determination.
---with input from Radio Pakistan
