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Raheel Sharif appointed chief of Islamic military alliance, confirms Khawaja Asif

Abu Dhabi // The appointment of the recently retired Pakistan army chief as commander of a Saudi-led military alliance of Muslim countries is a significant – if for now symbolic – shift by Islamabad away from its strategy of balancing relations with Riyadh and Tehran.

As tensions between the rival regional powers have increased amid proxy conflicts across the Middle East over the past few years, Pakistan has sought to remain neutral and protect itself from any spillover of the region’s turmoil.

Despite its close partnership with Saudi Arabia, Islamabad has also sought to maintain positive relations with Iran and even enhance them, with an eye to increasing trade and energy imports from its neighbour.

Pakistan, with the backing of parliament, even risked badly strained ties with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, when it declined to contribute forces to the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed rebels in Yemen in April 2015.

In December 2015 the Saudi defence minister, deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, announced the formation of an alliance of Muslim-majority countries – which now numbers 40 – ostensibly aimed at fighting extremist groups like ISIL, but widely seen as a show of force against Tehran.

Pakistan is a member of the Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism and participated in related military exercises in the kingdom in last February, while officials maintained that concrete contributions would depend on further clarifications and details from Riyadh.

But Pakistan’s defence minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, confirmed over the weekend that former chief of army staff retired general Raheel Sharif had been appointed the alliance’s military commander, a move that makes Pakistan – the only Muslim nuclear power – the face of the Saudi effort.

Mr Asif said last year that there were 1,180 Pakistani troops based in the kingdom to provide training and advice, after Riyadh in 2015 reportedly requested a larger deployment of Pakistani soldiers to the country, in part to bolster its own less experienced forces against ISIL. One western diplomat based in the Gulf said the number of Pakistani troops in Saudi Arabia was much higher than the figure given by Mr Asif.

Mr Asif said in an interview to Pakistani media that his government had consented to Gen Sharif’s new appointment, and the fact that it comes so soon after his retirement suggests the decision was one taken by the state rather than a personal move by the general.

"This certainly suggests that Pakistan has moved away from its very successful positioning in terms of playing the middle on Saudi Arabia and Iran and signalling to the Saudis that they’re with them but without really doing much for them," said Moeed Yusuf, an expert on Pakistan at the US Institute of Peace in Washington.

Pakistan is historically adept at negotiating over Saudi demands, and is also reliant on Saudi aid and other concessions, but what has changed is that Islamabad’s foreign policy is currently being driven primarily by a desire to counter India’s stated aim of isolating Pakistan globally.

New Delhi took advantage of the Pakistan-Gulf tensions over Yemen to try to appear to enhance ties with the GCC at Islamabad’s expense. Iran and India have also strengthened economic relations since oil sanctions were lifted last year, and the two countries are developing Chabahar port in Iran as a rival to the Chinese-built Gwadar port that is the keystone of a trade corridor linking the Arabian Sea to western China on which Pakistan has bet its economic future.

Last week, India’s army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said that "we are also carrying out actions to negate the nexus … between China and Pakistan


Iranian president Hassan Rouhani made his first state visit to Pakistan last March, but it was overshadowed by allegations by the Pakistani military that an Indian spy had crossed into the country from Iran. Pakistani officials were frustrated that Mr Rouhani or other senior figures did not say unequivocally that "Iran is not going to play the game of isolating Pakistan in terms of India, Iran, Afghanistan joining hands", Mr Yusuf said. "Iran has been very reluctant to do that, and in fact has not done that at all."

In the context Indian attempts to isolate Pakistan, Gen Sharif’s appointment may be a signal of the depth of Islamabad’s displeasure with Tehran over its growing ties with India.

This dynamic may change, however, if Washington’s relations with Iran deteriorate under president-elect Donald Trump, who has appointed a number of Iran hawks to key national security positions. Mr Trump may ask strategic ally India to walk away from Iran, which may change the dynamics between Tehran and Islamabad.

While Gen Sharif’s new role is symbolically important, it is still unclear what Pakistan will contribute to Riyadh’s alliance. With a quarter of its 190 million population Shiite, the politics that prevented Islamabad from involvement in Yemen would likely undermine attempts to contribute significant numbers of troops or to deploy them in combat in the Middle East.

"Pakistan cannot be strategically sucked into the Middle East and that has to be its number one goal if it’s going to do this well," Mr Yusuf said of its participation in the Saudi alliance.


http://www.thenational.ae/world/mid...led-antiterror-coalition-is-a-message-to-iran


The National is the UAE's premier news source. Founded in 2008, The National is setting a new standard for quality journalism in the Middle East. Each day The National reaches an influential audience across the country, covering the best in news while leading the region in analytical content and commentary. The National is committed to serving the local community while maintaining an international perspective.


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Every second day there is an article from the Gulf Arab Media that is about something or the other being a message to Iran.

With so many messages, i bet Iran has their spam filter on and its all going to the Junk Folder.
 

LMAO, ........... What pity nation we are ! some times this thought really hurts me. People here crying for IRAN , ironically they are from Pakistan , but , they cry for Iran . When someone ask them, Y u do it they will answer back , Y U CRY FOR KSA , Or they will cry about Shia and Sunni , etc. They even don't have any dam idea about history of Iran + Aribia + India(Subcontinent) .
Same thing apply for those who cry for KSA. No one here will cry for Pakistan or Islam (no Shia or Sunni). Where were those who cry for Iran now (mainly Shias , Thanks to Money from Iran) when there was no Mullah's Regime in IRAN , I should say the Shia's Regime??????????
And those who cry for KSA , where were u all when KSA and other paid money for extremism in Pakistan . List on both countries is way to Long .
Iran is not a friend of Pakistan neither KSA , keep this in your mind , both countries destroyed Our culture , our peace , and name what !!!!!!!!!!!!
What is Iran doing in Syria ? What is Iran doing in Yemen ? What is Iran doing in Iraq? What is Iran doing in Libya? What is Iran doing in Pakistan? Y Iran heaving Strategic Relation ship with India? (enemy of Pakistan and Killer of Kashmiri Muslims) . Y Iran provide Safe haven to RAW on its Land to operate against Pakistan? What Iran did for Pakistan since Revolution?
All those (I give dam Shia or Sunni) who are dying in Love of Iran , Please Answer my Question!!!!!!!!!!
Now I ask same questions from KSA lovers !!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the end. As you all know both Iran and KSA looking for there own better interests , I will insists we Pakistanis have to do the same , 39 countries are on one side may be in future join by more Islamic , Eastern and Western powers , who knows.
If our interests are better protected and better fruitful in joining the alliance then we will have to!!!!!! Let the A$$ of those burn who only think about Shia or Iran or separatism or extremism, Let them burn for whom Pakistan is not first.
Note: Please note how Indians + Israelis + Iranians and there spies , agents , touts , paid media outlets etc, reacting to this news. That in its self speak lot if some one look closely. Some one who thinks Pakistan First. Some true Pakistani not Shia for Iran or Sunni for KSA. Only Muslim and Only For Pakistan
Sunni Hanafi here, all my tribe is 97 percent Sunni hanafi, we are not Shias nor we have any problem with any Shias from our tribe after all they were ghilzais before and after Islam.

Our loyalty and sacrifices for Pakistan are unquestionable, we will do to Iranians what mirwais hotak did if they attacked Pakistan, but we won't let no Semite (Arab/Jew)cause Iranians any harm, after all we share the same blood and culture which we don't share with the sand dwellers.

If there is to be a war then let it be it will be racial war semites vs the aryans.

Kith and kin means balls!!!!!

We are Pakistani and our primary objective is the strength of Pakistan Did your Iranian kith and kin care about you when they allowed india our mortal enemy access to Chabahar a sensitive area bordering Balochistan or did your afghan kith and kin care when their intelligence service aided RAW in sending TTP our way.


No iran thought of its OWN SELF INTEREST

so why are you crying for iran


I am not saying lets join this alliance for fun or love but for the collasal strategic coup it could be for us

Our only concern should be Pakistan!!!
If iran wants support then lets talk because india will be hurt one way or the other in Afghanistan and Iran

Did my own country Pakistani nationals cared about their own citizen when they allowed drone attacks, executions, abductions and so on?.

It just don't matter kill a Pukhtoon and call him TTP.
 
Sunni Hanafi here, all my tribe is 97 percent Sunni hanafi, we are not Shias nor we have any problem with any Shias from our tribe after all they were ghilzais before and after Islam.

Our loyalty and sacrifices for Pakistan are unquestionable, we will do to Iranians what mirwais hotak did if they attacked Pakistan, but we won't let no Semite (Arab/Jew)cause Iranians any harm, after all we share the same blood and culture which we don't share with the sand dwellers.

If there is to be a war then let it be it will be racial war semites vs the aryans.



Did my own country Pakistani nationals cared about their own citizen when they allowed drone attacks, executions, abductions and so on?.

It just don't matter kill a Pukhtoon and call him TTP.
Go sell your snake oil somewhere else!
 
There is a desperate and intentionally created propaganda against RS's new assignment and his agreement. Seems like not just anti-Islam forces are trying to Malign and badmouth this development but Pakistan's enemies are also in pain that their hired media guns became so active in these days while putting everything behind.

From the some sources, not just Tallat Hussain but many others are trying to defame RS with blames and even name calling. We can see who clearly feel insecure of such alliance though it has nothing to do against any country but to curb down the growing threat of Terrorism.

As it became a fashion to link every terrorist with Islam to defame and malign Muslims, it was necessary to come with such force to tell the world once again that as the rest of world and us, were harmed of Terrorism, the same time we are agree to fight and bring down the threat as well so hopefully there wouldn't be crying and insecurity due to such.

One thing more, never the Terrorism would have happened nor the people blamed Muslims for as such, this alliance wouldn't have become reality so indeed, rest of the world must be appreciated for the help.
 
It is fine friends..if he is a honest Army chief, then he could have made much money like politicians...So at least after retirement, he has every right to make some private jobs and make something for his own living...Nothing wrong about it..
 
Arabs are looking for some kind of miracle .
Gen Sharif is indeed professional .But his subordinates are inexperienced Arabs not his trained Pak collegues.
That is quite doubtful about results.

As I said before, it is only a matter of time before Pakistan gets slowly and steadily gets involved deeper and deeper in Saudi Arabia and its policies in the region. The unofficial involvement is already quite deep and it will become overt soon enough. This is only one more step along this path.
 
Many Pakistani Shia's are very Angry and Upset about this Decision ...
 
PS: I am against sending our soldiers to any foreign land
Why are you against sending our soldiers to foreign land?

See who is behind anti-Arab Anti-Raheel propaganda
Innocents and Mazlooms of Pakistan and their sweet language :)

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Damn fools.

the alliance seems to be directed AGAINST Iran

Those who speak ill against the coalition or lie about its objectives are supporters of terrorism, and wish Iran may have free hand in destabalizing regional states one by one.
 
I dont want Pakistan to have any role, to be taking any side, in the spat between Iran and Saudi Arabia. I dont want Pakistan to have anything to do with the differences being created in Muslim on sect.

The difference between Iran and Saudi Arabia is not religious. Its geopolitical. The geopolitical interest is given a bias of religion to have a broader appeal.

I hope Raheel Shareef understood this. By taking this position, may be only symbolic, he has created polarization. He earned a lot of respect through his action. I would like to respect him always. I hope I dont see actions from him that seem to symbolize the differences created by Saudis and Iranis that is ripping apart Muslim world and bringing chaos and wars in Middle East.
 

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