The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has proposed that 21 Muslim countries join forces to form a military alliance akin to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization); the Kingdom needs Pakistan's assistance in bringing the proposal to fruition.
According to Dunya News, the Alliance will fight terrorism and new threats like ISIS, not one specific nation.
The task of creating the framework for the potential military alliance has been given to Pakistan. Pakistan has been asked by the kingdom to take the initiative's helm. The concept will continue to be discussed in consultations between Pakistan and KSA. It is yet unclear if the proposed alliance will be an expansion of the existing 34-nation alliance or a whole new project.
The Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, General Raheel Shareef, reportedly received an offer to lead the 34-nation military alliance upon retirement from his current position, according to claims that have also surfaced in Pakistani media.
Nawaz Shareef, the prime minister of Pakistan, and General Raheel Shareef, the chief of army staff (COAS), paid a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia to attend the conclusion of the joint military exercise "North Thunder."
The drill, which took place in Saudi Arabia's north, involved troops from twenty-one nations, including Pakistan. The exercise's primary objective is to enhance training for countering the danger presented by terrorist organizations.
Saudi Arabia attempted to win Pakistan's support following a diplomatic dispute with Iran over the execution of a Shiite cleric. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel Bin Ahmed al Jubeir and Defence Minister Mohamed bin Salman paid back-to-back visits to Pakistan to persuade Pakistan to side with the Kingdom against Iran like several gulf states who cut off diplomatic relations with Iran. However, Pakistan refrained from taking sides and instead played the role of a mediator. To ease tensions, the Prime Minister and Army Chief both traveled to Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Pakistan has cordial connections with Arab nations, particularly Saudi Arabia. Given their religious ties, Pakistanis have a great reverence for the kingdom. Over time, both nations have emphasized that a danger to one's sovereignty also poses a threat to the other. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have more than just a strategic connection. Unemployed Pakistanis frequently travel to Saudi Arabia, and Arab nobles enjoy hunting in Pakistan's southern region, which includes the illegal Houbara Bustards.
The Government of Pakistan has often stated that it will always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Saudi Arabia in the face of any challenge to its territorial integrity and sovereignty. Pakistan has consistently maintained that "the attack on Saudi Arabia will be regarded as an attack on Pakistan."
Saudi Arabia formed a military alliance with 34 Muslim countries, including Pakistan, in December 2015. Saudi Arabia conceived and assembled the Islamic Military Alliance to combat terrorism in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Egypt. Riyadh will serve as the location for the 34-nation military bloc's command center. It's crucial to remember that every member nation of this alliance is a Sunni country.
Pakistan and many other nations were taken aback by the announcement. Pakistan's agreement and consultation were not taken into account when this coalition was formed, according to the initial response from Pakistani officials. Later, the Pakistani government praised the idea and declared its support for the coalition's "anti-terror" efforts. Many saw it as an effort to reconcile the prior rupture brought on by Pakistan's rejection of participation in Saudi Arabia's proxy war in Yemen.
The 34-nation alliance's participating countries and Pakistan pledged to exchange military knowledge, but Pakistan did not commit to sending soldiers abroad to combat terrorism.
The KSA has since asked that Pakistan take on a "principal role" in the development of the NATO-like alliance. It is yet unclear whether Shiite states would be included in the new coalition.
The Prime Minister met with King Salman bin Abdulaziz and thanked KSA for its ongoing assistance to Pakistan. He was accompanied by Tariq Fatemi, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs, and COAS General Raheel Shareef.
The Prime Minister and COAS also paid their respects at Roza-e-Rasool and performed prayers at Masjid-e-Nabawi during the visit.
KSA and Pakistan inked six agreements for development projects. KSA has agreed to provide Pakistan with 122 million dollars in soft loans and non-military help.
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