Pakistan part of Saudi alliance but won't contribute troops: Sartaj Aziz

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan today said that it was part of the Saudi-led 34-nation Islamic military coalition to fight terrorism but will not contribute soldiers for any combat mission inside Saudi Arabia or any other country.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan will share intelligence with the Saudis in the fight against terrorism.

"We are ready to share intelligence with Saudi Arabia to counter terrorism," he said.

He said Saudi officials had not demanded ground troops and Pakistan will not contribute soldiers for any combat mission inside Saudi Arabia or any other country.

During a briefing to the National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee, Aziz told lawmakers that there was no pressure on Pakistan and all issues with Saudi Arabia have been settled.

But the announcement came just days after back-to-back visits by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and Defence Minister, also the Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, to goad Islamabad to play a more proactive role in the new alliance.

Despite a feeble welcome to the idea, Pakistan has shown weariness for the alliance which would bind its troops to become part of military operations out of the country.

Saudi Arabia on the other hand is not willing to let Pakistan sidestep as it is the sole Muslim nation with nuclear weapons, observers say.

Last year, Islamabad had refused to join another Saudi initiative to launch airstrikes against Yemen.

Another reason for Pakistan's reluctance could be its close ties with Iran which is not part of the alliance, they say.

Aziz, however, said Pakistan will play a role at a proper time in defusing tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

"An emergency meeting of OIC foreign ministers has been summoned in Jeddah where Pakistan would present important proposals to reduce Iran-Saudi tensions," he said.

The advisor said Pakistan believes in dialogue in settling the Syrian issue and other problems faced by the region.

Chairman of the Committee Awais Leghari told media after the meeting that the panel was satisfied with the briefing.

The military coalition of Sunni countries was announced last month to combat terrorism.

Since Iran and Syria were not included, it is said that the grouping might increase the sectarian divide in Pakistan's sharp Shia-Sunni fault lines.