Pakistan to support Saudi-led military alliance while maintaining close contact with Iran

Pakistan highlighted its "successful counter-terrorism operations and the comprehensive National Action Plan" during the first meeting of the defence ministers of countries involved in the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) held last Sunday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said in his weekly briefing on Thursday.

"The participants discussed ways to boost cooperation for combating terrorism through intelligence sharing, capacity building, joint exercises and media campaign," the FO said regarding the agenda of the Saudi-led Islamic military coalition.

Dr Faisal said Pakistan had expressed its willingness to share its intellectual, informational, counter-financing and military experience and capabilities through the forum of the IMCTC, a move "aimed at enhancing the ability of its member states to counter the scourge of terrorism and extremism."

On a question on whether Iran objected to Pakistan's involvement in the alliance, he said Pakistan remains in close contact with the Iranian leadership at all levels, recalling that the latest contact between the two nations had come when Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Iran for detailed consultations earlier this month..