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Pak Govt. allows former army chief to lead Saudi-led military alliance

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ANI Islamabad [Pakistan]
Last Updated : Mar 25 2017 | 5:57 PM IST

The Pakistan Government has given its approval to former chief of army staff general (Retd) Raheel Sharif to lead a 39-nation alliance of Muslim states led by Saudi Arabia by providing him with a No-Objection Certificate (NOC).

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the approval of the government in a Geo News programme.

Asif said a written request from the Saudi Government was received by the Pakistan Government in this regard.

He said a meeting will be attended by the advisory board of defense ministers of member countries in this regard in May.

Earlier in January, former chief of army staff (COAS) General (retd.) Raheel Sharif was appointed as the chief of Islamic military alliance and posted in Saudi Arabia

In 2015, Saudi Arabia had announced the formation of a 34-state Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism and Pakistan was made a member of the coalition.

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First Published: Mar 25 2017 | 5:29 PM IST

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