Pakistan Senate (Upper House of Parliament) Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs on Tuesday (Feb 09, 2026) called upon the Nawaz Sharif government to maintain neutrality with regard to the Saudi Arabia’s initiative of formation of a coalition of Islamic countries against terrorism.
The members of the committee here at its meeting at the Parliament House, voiced their concerns on the matter and said that any involvement in Syrian issue would have a negative repercussion on Pakistan’s internal situation.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has not exhibited any open tilt towards the Saudis. Nor did the Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif. Yet both have not left any doubts as to where their sympathies lay despite undertaking a mediation mission to Riyadh and Teheran. The parliamentary panel’s outburst is a clear signal that the law makers are not in synch with the government’s policy. Hence their caution: national interests must be protected and neutrality be maintained at all costs.
Nevertheless, the Senate Committee took care to not ruffle any feathers. It observed: Pakistan places its relationship with Saudi Arabia at high esteem and intends to further strengthen already existing relations.
The official brief to the law makers was orchestrated by the Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry. He did not have anything new to say nor did he use the occasion to offer any clarification. He merely stated that Pakistan had consistently supported all regional and international efforts to combat militancy, extremism and terrorism. At the outset however he said Pakistan welcomed the formation of 34-nation coalition to counter terrorism.
“The coalition is a grouping of like-minded countries to fight against terrorism and extremism”, he said and added that the coalition’s facets of cooperation would be decided in due course through the consultative meetings among the 34 countries. This remark indicates the direction of the Sharif government. Is that vague? More so at a time when Saudi Arabia says it is prepared to send troops inside Syria to defeat the IS. Well, the Pakistan Senate committee thinks so.
“Make a categorical statement (on the troop’s issue). Avoiding the matter would not send a positive message to the people”, they said ignoring the assertion of defacto foreign minister Sartaj Aziz that it was unwise for the government to take any position on the basis of media statements.
- by Ram Singh Kalchuri