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Iran unhappy as Pakistani genenral becomes chief of Saudi-led counter-terror alliance

Xinhua, April 4, 2017 Adjust font size:

Iran voiced misgivings on the appointment of Pakistan's former army chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, as the commander of an Islamic counter-terrorism military alliance, Tehran Times daily reported on Tuesday.

Last week, Islamabad approved the appointment of Sharif, who has close ties to Saudi Arabia, as head of a Saudi-led coalition of Muslim countries with the aim of counter-terrorism.

The 39-nation Islamic military alliance excluded Iran and Iraq, two Shiite-majority countries.

Tehran has conveyed its concerns to Islamabad regarding the appointment, said Iranian Ambassador to Islamabad, Mehdi Honardoost. "We are concerned about this issue ... that it may impact the unity of Islamic countries."

Pakistan contacted Iranian officials before issuing the appointment, but this "did not indicate that Iran was satisfied with this decision or it had accepted the same," Honardoost said.

Iran and Saudi Arabia have serious disagreements over the current situation in the Middle East, especially about the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Endit