Tehran (Web Desk): Iran has expressed reservations over former Pakistan army chief General (retd) Raheel Sharif’s appointment as head of a Saudi military alliance, stating the country is not ‘satisfied’ with the decision, nor has it accepted the same.
Addressing the media, Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Honardoost admitted Pakistan had contacted Iranian officials before issuing the NOC to Gen (retd) Raheel. “But it did not indicate that Iran was satisfied with this decision or it had accepted the same,” IRNA quoted Honardoost as saying.
He added that Tehran informed Islamabad it would not become a part of any alliance such as the “military alliance” nor was Iran offered to do so. Honardoost suggested all important Islamic countries should come together to “form a coalition of peace to resolve their issues rather forming a controversial military alliance.”
Last month, the government decided “in principle” to allow the former army chief to head the Saudi-led military alliance of 34 Muslim nations, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed.
“It has been decided in principle that Gen (retd) Raheel Sharif will go there [to Saudi Arabia] to lead the alliance,” the minister told a private news channel, putting to rest weeks of speculation. “The formal process in this regard has yet to be completed,” he said.
