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Pakistan not yet joined Saudi's Islamic alliance, foreign ministry says

Xinhua, December 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Pakistan said Wednesday that it has not joined the Saudi-led Islamic alliance and is "awaiting further details to decide the extent of its participation in different activities of the alliance."

Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday the formation of an Islamic military alliance of 23 countries, including Pakistan, to fight terrorism, with command center in Riyadh.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry welcomed the formation of the alliance to counter terrorism but did not confirm claims by the Saudi authorities.

"As is well known, Pakistan has consistently supported all regional and international efforts to combat militancy, extremism and terrorism and, to this end, has extended its full support and cooperation to international community," a foreign ministry statement said.

The statement recalled that the Forty-Second Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Kuwait this year had reiterated its commitment to relevant UN and OICresolutions on combating terrorism and extremism and called for joining regional and international efforts to fight terrorism and extremist thought.

"Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy close, cordial, and brotherly relations. Both countries condemn terrorism and cooperate in the efforts to eliminate this menace," the foreign ministry said.

The Saudi Press Agency statement of the agency highlighted that the alliance consists of 23 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, UAE, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Turkey, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, Djibouti, Senegal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Gabon, Guinea, Palestine, Comoros, Qatar, Cote d'Ivoire, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Maldives, Mali, Malaysia, Egypt, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Yemen.

More than ten other Islamic countries have expressed their support for this alliance and will take the necessary measures in this regard, including Indonesia, the statement added.

The alliance will be led by Saudi Arabia and its command center will be in Riyadh to coordinate and support military operations to fight terrorism and to develop the necessary programs and mechanisms for supporting these efforts. Endit