• Pakistani leadership assures Saudi FM of formally joining ‘alliance against terrorism’ but says it won’t send combat troops to Yemen or Syria
• PM Nawaz urges Saudi FM Adel Bin Ahmed Al Jubeir to resolve standoff with Iran diplomatically

Pakistan on Thursday assured Saudi Arabia that it would formally join the ‘34-nation military alliance of Muslim countries against terrorism’, however Islamabad has not yet committed to sending combat troops to Syria or Yemen as per the Saudi request, Pakistan Today has learnt reliably.

A well-placed source privy to the details of the meetings between the visiting Saudi foreign minister and the Pakistani leadership revealed that Pakistan has assured Saudi Arabia of increasing the number of trainers for combat troops and intelligence sharing.

“However, Pakistan has made it clear it would not send its combat troops to the Kingdom. Pakistan is ready to upgrade the strength of the armed forces stationed in the Kingdom to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia,” the source added.

The government source said that Pakistan will act without delay if the integrity and sovereignty of the Kingdom is threatened.

“However, we don’t want to enter into any controversy by taking sides with either of the two feuding countries – Saudi Arabia and Iran,” the source said.

Earlier, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Bin Ahmed Al Jubeir held separate talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and PM’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz over Pakistan’s possible role in Saudi Arabia-led alliance against terrorism and extremism in Middle East.

Jubeir’s visit comes at a time when Pakistan is trying to follow a delicate path in order to preempt any negative fallout of the escalation in tension between Riyadh and Tehran over the former’s execution of prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

The Saudi dignitary, who is on a two-day visit to Pakistan, called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM’s House and exchanged views on regional security.

During the meeting, Premier Sharif stressed the need for easing tension between Tehran and Riyadh through peaceful diplomatic channels. He said the Muslim Ummah needed to a pivotal role in order to bring the two countries closer.

According to sources, prior to Jubeir’s arrival, a high-level meeting under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had taken place in which Pak-Saudi relations were discussed.

Prior to his meeting with Sharif, the foreign dignitary called on Army chief Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters and discussed regional security with him. He commended Pakistan’s phenomenal successes in the fight against terrorism and efforts towards regional stability.

Later, the Saudi FM held talks with PM’s Adviser Sartaj Aziz over bilateral cooperation.

Jubeir was originally supposed to visit Pakistan last Sunday but he had delayed his trip due to the situation arising from an escalation in tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Pakistan has voiced deep concerns over the Saudi-Iran row and warned that dark forces of extremism and terrorism could take advantage of this division between the Muslim countries.

This supercharged atmosphere has even put Pakistan in a tight corner as far as its role in the Saudi-led 34-nation alliance is concerned. Although Pakistan has announced its participation in the alliance, the scope of its participation is yet to be decided.