Number of Muslim countries in military alliance rises to 37

ISLAMABAD: The number of the member states of the military alliance of Muslim countries that was established last month in Saudi Arabia has increased from 34 to 37.

It was revealed by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Ahmed Al-Jubeir while talking to host Adviser to Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz during a discussion pertaining to the security situation of the region here in the Foreign Office on Thursday. Sartaj Aziz confirmed it in a brief chat with The News Friday evening.

The Saudi minister also gave the names of the countries which recently joined the alliance and -- two African and one Asian country. To a query, Sartaj Aziz clarified that the reply given in the National Assembly about the meeting between foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India earlier in the day was being reported out of context.

He said that the schedule of January 15 was given before the Pathankot incident and it had to be endorsed by both sides. He reminded that the question in the National Assembly was asked while attributing to an interview appeared on behalf of former Indian high commissioner for Pakistan Dr ATC Raghavan who claimed that whenever Pakistan and India talks on Kashmir would take place, it would be pertaining to Azad Kashmir. 

Sartaj Aziz maintained that the statement in question was negated and it was clarified by the Foreign Office that the two foreign secretaries would meet here on January 15 and they would discuss Kashmir issue in the light of the United Nations resolutions as part of the Comprehensive Dialogue.

The adviser said nothing can be said right now about the meeting of the two foreign secretaries whether it would take place on January 15 or not. “We will have to wait for a while,” he maintained. 

Meanwhile, diplomatic sources said Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Indonesia and Tajikistan were considering joining the Saudi-Arabia-led military alliance but no formal announcement from these countries has been made yet. In case these four countries opt to join the alliance, the number could be further expanded.