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Iran Expresses Clear Reservations Over the Islamic Military Coalition
Global Village Space |
Iran has expressed clear reservations over the appointment of General Raheel Sharif as the head of the Islamic military alliance, known colloquially as the Muslim NATO, saying it is not ‘satisfied’ with the coalition.
“We are concerned about this issue… that it may impact the unity of Islamic countries.”
– Mehdi Honardoost
Last week when Khawaja Asif, the defense minister, revealed on TV that the government had given approval for Raheel Sharif to take the position, there was a furor in the country and dissension was expressed by political parties over the decision. The solace given to the media and country was that General Sharif had laid down conditions to accepting and that Iran had been taken into confidence on the matter.
Today, IRNA, Iran’s State-Run News Agency, has quoted Mehdi Honardoost, Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan as saying, “We are concerned about this issue… that it may impact the unity of Islamic countries.” However, he confirmed that Islamabad had contacted Iranian officials to discuss the matter before giving permission to Raheel Sharif to lead the coalition.
Read more: Should General Raheel have regrets?
The Saudi Arabian government has sold the coalition as being against terrorism, however, unfortunately, the battle against terrorism and sectarianism are gray areas.
Tehran had at that time informed Islamabad that it would not become part of this military alliance and neither had Iran been extended an offer to join the coalition. Honardoost proposed that all important Islamic countries should come together to form a “coalition of peace” in order to resolve their issues “rather [than] forming a controversial military alliance”.
The appointment of General Sharif as head of this military coalition has been very controversial since the idea was first thrown out several months ago. All those against the idea are worried about the sectarian dimension of this decision and the effect it has on the country’s foreign policy.
Pakistan is one of the leading countries in the Muslim world with its largest army and nuclear weapons. It has generally avoided taking sides in conflicts involving intra-Middle-Eastern countries.
The Saudi Arabian government has sold the coalition as being against terrorism, however, unfortunately, the battle against terrorism and sectarianism are gray areas. While, the Saudi’s have stated that the coalition will involve operations against terrorism in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt, and Afghanistan; it did not help its cause, that the coalition was announced when it was in the middle of a messy and intractable military situation with Yemen.
Read more: Nasser Janjua thinks Raheel Sharif will bring unity among ‘Muslim world’
Pakistan has been under pressure to join the coalition since it was formed in December 2015. Initially, the Saudi Arabian government named it as a member of the coalition, without even getting Pakistan’s acquiescence on the matter.
Given the resistance the coalition has faced from the opposition political parties and the media, the government – who is keen to join – has kept a deliberate policy of ambiguity in public over the objectives of this coalition and its ambit.
Read full article:
Iran Expresses Clear Reservations Over the Islamic Military Coalition
Global Village Space |
Iran has expressed clear reservations over the appointment of General Raheel Sharif as the head of the Islamic military alliance, known colloquially as the Muslim NATO, saying it is not ‘satisfied’ with the coalition.
“We are concerned about this issue… that it may impact the unity of Islamic countries.”
– Mehdi Honardoost
Last week when Khawaja Asif, the defense minister, revealed on TV that the government had given approval for Raheel Sharif to take the position, there was a furor in the country and dissension was expressed by political parties over the decision. The solace given to the media and country was that General Sharif had laid down conditions to accepting and that Iran had been taken into confidence on the matter.
Today, IRNA, Iran’s State-Run News Agency, has quoted Mehdi Honardoost, Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan as saying, “We are concerned about this issue… that it may impact the unity of Islamic countries.” However, he confirmed that Islamabad had contacted Iranian officials to discuss the matter before giving permission to Raheel Sharif to lead the coalition.
Read more: Should General Raheel have regrets?
The Saudi Arabian government has sold the coalition as being against terrorism, however, unfortunately, the battle against terrorism and sectarianism are gray areas.
Tehran had at that time informed Islamabad that it would not become part of this military alliance and neither had Iran been extended an offer to join the coalition. Honardoost proposed that all important Islamic countries should come together to form a “coalition of peace” in order to resolve their issues “rather [than] forming a controversial military alliance”.
The appointment of General Sharif as head of this military coalition has been very controversial since the idea was first thrown out several months ago. All those against the idea are worried about the sectarian dimension of this decision and the effect it has on the country’s foreign policy.
Pakistan is one of the leading countries in the Muslim world with its largest army and nuclear weapons. It has generally avoided taking sides in conflicts involving intra-Middle-Eastern countries.
The Saudi Arabian government has sold the coalition as being against terrorism, however, unfortunately, the battle against terrorism and sectarianism are gray areas. While, the Saudi’s have stated that the coalition will involve operations against terrorism in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt, and Afghanistan; it did not help its cause, that the coalition was announced when it was in the middle of a messy and intractable military situation with Yemen.
Read more: Nasser Janjua thinks Raheel Sharif will bring unity among ‘Muslim world’
Pakistan has been under pressure to join the coalition since it was formed in December 2015. Initially, the Saudi Arabian government named it as a member of the coalition, without even getting Pakistan’s acquiescence on the matter.
Given the resistance the coalition has faced from the opposition political parties and the media, the government – who is keen to join – has kept a deliberate policy of ambiguity in public over the objectives of this coalition and its ambit.
Read full article:
Iran Expresses Clear Reservations Over the Islamic Military Coalition
