ISLAMABAD, Feb.17 (APP): Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign
Affairs Sartaj Aziz Wednesday said that the aims and objectives of the 34-member alliance of Islamic countries was to counter terrorism and militancy.
Responding to various questions in the National Assembly about formation
of the alliance and Pakistan’s role in it, he said, the coalition would coordinate military efforts in the fight against terrorism; to combat terrorism intellectually; coordinate media efforts to fight terrorism,
fight those supporting and financing terrorism; provide data base on terrorist groups and organizations and hold meetings, seminars and conferences to study the developments of the phenomenon of terrorism and come up with recommendations to fight it.
He said each country in the coalition would decide the specific
activities in which it would participate, adding that Pakistan was still awaiting further details and technical consultation, after which it would decide the extant of its participation.
The Advisor said that meeting of the 34-member coalition was due in
February but still not held and added that the House would be informed whenever the meeting would be held.
He said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had military cooperation since 1982
where 1000 to 1200 of our armed forces were taking part in capacity building of Saudi armed forces and other exercises including sharing its experience on counter terrorism.
“As a responsible state we are moving as carefully as possible and
there should be no confusion about any sectarian issue of it,” he added.
He said that Pakistan announced on December 16, 2015 that it has
consistently supported all regional and international efforts to combat militancy, extremism and terrorism. He said Pakistan welcomed the formation of the 34-Nation alliance to counter terrorism, adding that in this regard no agreement or treaty was signed to form the alliance.