Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz Thursday informed the Senate that Pakistan will not become part of any adventurism against Iran and presence of former Army Chief Raheel Sharif is a guarantee in this regard that no such thing will ever happen. Responding to a calling attention notice by Senator Farhatullah Babar, Sartaj said the alliance is focused on combating terrorism. "It is unfortunate that Syria, Yemen and Iran are divided along sectarian lines. The Riyadh Summit may have deepened those divides," he admitted.
He said former Army Chief General Raheel Sharif had a vast experience in fight against militancy and terrorism and his appointment as head of the coalition will not affect Pakistan's foreign policy rather his presence there may ensure some sort of balance, especially against Iran.
This promoted Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani to clarify Saudi King's statement about Iran. To this Aziz said Iran has been mentioned in the resolution, but it does not mean that all countries are joining for an action against Iran. To this, Aziz said that these are hypothetical questions as it is up to the member country whether it is willing to join any activity or not," he said, in an obvious reference to any military action against Iran by Saudi-led coalition.
"It's completely their call that if a member country is not going to become part of a certain thing, it is its own choice and no one can force any member country for becoming part of certain action," he added. The adviser admitted that the recent speeches made at Arab-US Summit in Riyadh have increased the sectarian divide, adding, "It is quite unfortunate that Muslim states are confronting one another, for which we all have to be very careful."
Rabbani reiterated Babar's questions, asking whether the government had recalled the former Army chief. "Has the government disowned Raheel Sharif?" the chairman questioned with directive to the adviser to present the alliance's ToRs in Senate once they are unveiled. Regarding the ToRs of the alliance, Aziz said that they have not been finalised yet. He added that the ToRs on Sharif's appointment to the military coalition are also yet to be finalised. Aziz assured the senator and the Senate chairman that once finalised, the ToRs will be presented before the Parliament.
Senator Farhatullah Babar of PPPP said that contradictions have become galore between the claims and actual reality about the mandate of the Islamic Military Alliance that poses serious threat to national security. He said that initially the Parliament was assured that the alliance was only meant for fighting terrorism and Pakistan will not take sides in the conflict in Middle East.
Reading out from the verbatim record of Senate of April 11, he said that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had informed the house that a conference will be held in May to finalise the terms of reference (ToRs) of the alliance. He also read out the Chairman's ruling, which stated: "When the ToRs are finalised in May and before the Cabinet rectify them, they should be laid before the Senate and the National Assembly so that they are discussed in both the houses."
Subsequently, he said that reports surface quoting Saudi authorities that the alliance was not restricted to confronting terrorist organisations but that on the request of a member state it could also move against rebels and militants posing threat to member countries.
"This was followed by the Arab Islamic-US summit in Riyadh in which President Trump danced with a golden sword as if the alliance turned its guns against Iran instead of fighting militancy," he questioned. Babar said that the summit was a declaration that Iran was a bastion of terror, was not part of the Muslim World and that it will be isolated, adding the summit brought Pakistan's neighbour Iran and its traditional ally and friend Saudi Arabia on a dangerous collusion course.
"This has posed new and unforeseen dangers to Pakistan's security," he said. He then posed five questions and asked for pointed replies. "Have the ToRs of the Islamic Military Alliance been finalised? If yes, what are the terms and why have these not been placed before the Senate as promised on April 11 and subsequent ruling of Chairman that it should be laid before the Senate before Cabinet's approval," he added.
He questioned if the ToRs have still not been finalised, why General Raheel Sharif was allowed to join the alliance, adding if the government is considering calling General Raheel Sharif back in view of the emerging reality of the actual purpose of the alliance, what are the conditions of General Raheel Sharif's appointment as head of the alliance and does it provide for recalling him in case it becomes necessary," he added.
Through another calling attention notice, Senator Seher Kamran also drew attention of the adviser towards the killing of 15 Indians in the recent massive ordnance air blast attack by the US military in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan which shows the involvement of India in terrorist activities in the region in collaboration with Taliban. The adviser expressed ignorance about the deaths of Indians in the attack, but he did show concern over India's involvement in terror activities by using Afghan soil. He also condemned the callous attitude of India towards Kashmiris, especially for awarding the officer who had tied a Kashmiri man in front of his official jeep.