M’sia backs Saudi-led alliance against terror

Pakistan on Wednesday announced its support to the newly formed Saudi-led military alliance against terrorism but said the extent of its involvement in the coalition is yet to be decided.

A number of countries have expressed surprise that they were included by Saudi Arabia in a new military alliance to fight terrorism.

“Pakistan welcomes the formation of the alliance and is awaiting further details to decide the extent of its participation”, said Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah in a statement. Giving Pakistan’s response to announcement by Saudi Arabia regarding formation of an alliance against terrorism, Foreign Office said in a statement that as is well known, Pakistan has consistently supported all regional and global efforts to combat militancy, extremism and terrorism and, to this end, has extended its full support and cooperation to worldwide community.

Prince Mohammed said it would focus on efforts to fight terrorism in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Afghanistan.

A senior official, who requested not to be named, ruled out the possibility of sparing Pakistani troops for the Saudi alliance, something that carries both domestic and worldwide implications.

However, Indonesian Chief Security Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said later, as quoted by Reuters: “We don’t want to join a military alliance”.

He added that Pakistan’s envoy to Riyadh had been instructed to contact the Saudi government to look into the matter.

Egypt-based Erem News reported Al-Qattan saying in a statement that the Kingdom’s exports to Egypt amounted to approximately $2.2bn, while imports amounted to roughly $1.5bn, with a surplus of roughly $716 million in favor of Saudi Arabia.