No decision yet on joining anti-extremism alliance: PM

Says Trump wants cooperation from Muslims

MADINA MUNAWWARAH: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Monday said Pakistan had not taken a final decision yet on becoming a part of the alliance against extremism.

He called for an accord among the Islamic countries to eliminate the menace of terrorism, which was affecting the world peace. "With the financial cost of around $120 billion and thousands of precious human lives, Pakistan has suffered a lot due to this scourge," the prime minister said in an informal interaction with media persons accompanying him during his three-day visit to Saudi Arabia.

He said as the Western world was uniting against terrorism, adding that the Muslim world should also be on the same page to tackle this threat. The prime minister, who visited the kingdom to attend the first-ever Arab-Islamic-American Summit on terrorism on the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, said Pakistan owing to its war against terrorism had curbed this menace to a large extent. He said Afghanistan should also wage a war against terrorism.

To a question about his interaction with US President Donald Trump during the summit, the prime minister said, "It was a good meeting". He said Trump wants cooperation from the Muslims. 

During the summit, the prime minister added, he had an interaction with some other leaders as well. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif offered Asr prayers at the Masjid-e-Nabvi. He prayed for peace in the Muslim world as well as prosperity and development of Pakistan.

The Pakistani community present on the occasion were delighted to see the prime minister, waved to him and raised slogans of Pakistan Zindabad.