Pakistan welcomes Saudi-led alliance to combat terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Responding to Saudi Arabia's announcement to form 34-state alliance to combat terrorism, Pakistan on Wednesday welcomed the move and said it is awaiting further details to decide the extent of its participation in different activities of the alliance.

The foreign office spokesman said, as is well known, Pakistan has consistently supported all regional and international efforts to combat militancy, extremism and terrorism and, to this end, has extended its full support and cooperation to international community.

“It would be recalled that the Forty-Second Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Kuwait this year had reiterated its commitment to relevant UN and OIC resolutions on combating terrorism and extremism and called for joining regional and international efforts to fight terrorism and extremist thought,” the spokesman said.

He further said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy close, cordial, and brotherly relations. Both countries condemn terrorism and cooperate in the efforts to eliminate this menace.

According to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Egypt, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Malaysia, Pakistan and several other countries are part of 34-states alliance.

"The coalition will have a joint operations center in Riyadh to coordinate and support military operations", SPA said.

Saudi Foreign Minister, Adel al-Jubeir, was quoted by Reuters as saying that the alliance will share intelligence, train, equip and provide forces if necessary for the fight Daesh militants.