Military alliance not a solution to terrorism, Mazari tells NA

E-Paper | May 01, 2026

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) Shireen Mazari during a National Assembly session on Thursday told lawmakers that a military alliance cannot be a solution to terrorism.

The PTI submitted an adjournment motion in the house to discuss Pakistan's membership of the 41-nation Saudi military alliance, saying that in light of a unanimous resolution okayed by lawmakers on Yemen calling for "neutrality in the conflict" in 2015, Pakistan must take certain steps before determining its position on the matter.

The PTI's chief whip in the NA urged the government to determine the nature of the alliance, make the Terms of Reference of the alliance clear and explain why the alliance was set up.

"A similar alliance was set up for Syria but nothing came of it," Mazari said.

"A military alliance is not a solution to terrorism... Even the Saffron minister believes that [retired] Gen Raheel should not have accepted a position [as the head of the alliance]," she added.

"There are at least 10 militaries present in the alliance who are also a part of a Saudi alliance against Yemen," Mazari cautioned.

"There should have been a joint parliamentary session where the matter was discussed properly, how can a major decision like this be taken without keeping the parliament in the loop," Mazari added.

PTI's Asad Umer said, "The matter is not of Raheel Sharif's appointment, the question is if we should be part of the alliance or not."

Addressing PTI's concerns Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif said, "The alliance has not been formed yet, the countries have only discussed the matters."

"There will be a grand meeting of all the countries to be involved in the alliance in May, the formal alliance will be formed after that. The terms of reference formed in the meeting will be discussed in the parliament," Asif added.

"The Saudis wished that Raheel Sharif should head the alliance, whenever it is formed and thus the matter was discussed. However, he will only ask for an No Objection Certificate (NoC) after all matters have been finalised," Asif said while he had the floor.

Discussing the matter of the alliance interfering with Pakistan's perspective on Yemen, Asif said, "We will stick to our prerogative when it comes to Yemen, and the agreement we have will remain binding."

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karachi wala

Apr 13, 2017 01:27pm

agree with her

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M.Saeed

Apr 13, 2017 01:30pm

The same Mazari if by any chance becomes a part of the ruling Government, all of her these statements would become the opposite and the essential need of the hour.

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ABE

Apr 13, 2017 01:36pm

Saudis are singularly instrumental in incubating and funding all the jihadist groups and spreading terror around the world... Remember 9/11? Pakistan's alliance with Saudi's, makes the country complicit. If you think US is only using Drone over Pakistan now? Wait till they outright accuse and blacklist Pakistan as terror sponsors... Then all hell will break loose.

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kehan

Apr 13, 2017 01:42pm

agree with her.millitry alliance will complicate the situation,and will definitely prove nothing except worsening our friendly relationship with our neighbors.

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AR Mallick

Apr 13, 2017 01:43pm

Shireen Mazari, let me tell u the truth, Pti does not even know the abc of foreign policy. All your bunch, let me say one more time all of Pti are zero on foreign policy. Not a single person out of u all have any contribution towards or on Gulf countries. Please let Mr Raheel serve our brothers/friends and leave him alone. Don not interfere where u do not carry an expertise or knowledge. Thanks

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Ahmed

Apr 13, 2017 01:43pm

if u think so... please tell usa and eurpoe that they do not need NATO. tell russia and iran they do not need it in syria, tell usa and iran they do not need it for iraq; tell usa and s.korea they do not need it for n.korea; tell usa and japan they do not need it for china and list goes on.

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riaz

Apr 13, 2017 01:49pm

Once we put our foot in the alliance, we will be dragged in the quagmire.

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A gujjar

Apr 13, 2017 01:53pm

what is the PTI problem, any thing good, PTI got objection.

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PhIlosopheR(from japan)

Apr 13, 2017 01:57pm

Don't pinpoint the problem only give some solutions for the eradication of terrorism but first PTI should strongly condemn ttp and terrorism.

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Skeptic

Apr 13, 2017 02:00pm

Pakistan is being used by the Saudis for their own selfish purposes to protect the Al Saud family. Nothing else.

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Faisal

Apr 13, 2017 02:08pm

PTI has a policy of negating every thing. This is why they are not going any where

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eye

Apr 13, 2017 02:13pm

@A gujjar "anything good" "got objection"...what is that?

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yaser arafat

Apr 13, 2017 02:28pm

Why this is being considered that this alliance will use only for fight or war against an other Muslim or Non Muslim country, this alliance can be used for peace as well same as UNO. This is dire need for Muslim Umma to be under one roof. the important thing this alliance should be affective not like OIC which is limited to statements.

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Hussain

Apr 13, 2017 02:29pm

The matter is military alliance is not as simple as it is being portrayed. It is a matter of paramount importance because Pakistan is of diverse ethnic, cultural society and if alliance proves to be safeguarding only one faction then it will open a pandora box not only in the region but also in the homeland.

Recommend 0

Apr 13, 2017 02:35pm

@A gujjar This is good ???? Pakistan is filled with terrorism problems ? Don't you feel Raheel should stay here and advise the Government on how to tackle it rather than taking a job in KSA to help them ??? His Duty and every Pakistani's duty is to Pakistan first !

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Mahmood

Apr 13, 2017 02:40pm

Russia yesterday vetoed a resolution at the UN Security Council condemning Syria for the alleged chemical attack inside Syria last week. While US Ambassador to the UN accused Russia of siding with and supporting Syrian regime in its criminal behavior and demanded that Russia distant itself from Syrian regime. Russian's UN Ambassador was equally blunt and sharply retorted, "We can also ask the Americans to distance themselves from Saudi Arabia which is responsible for instigating the tragedy that is unfolding in Syria." I rest my case.

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Aman

Apr 13, 2017 03:14pm

she is totally wrong, as terrorism give excuse to foreign powers to intervene in muslim commuters and muslims need to have their own force to address their own issues and take charge of their own affairs, she is dead wrong here...

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riz

Apr 13, 2017 03:33pm

@AR Mallick I would like you share the wisdom on this decision and few lessons on foreign policy please please,,

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khanm

Apr 13, 2017 04:06pm

Anything can be achieved either by alliance or non-alliance provided our intention is the elimination of terrorism and not anything else. In this bizarre political arena, all sorts of games are being played.. In any game, it is followed by some rules and regulations but in a geopolitical game, there is no rule. It is all about interests.. Where is the justice of political power if it punish the murderer and jails the plunderer, and then itself marches upon neighboring lands, killing thousands and pillaging the very hills?..this is what we call our world...

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Talha

Apr 13, 2017 04:11pm

First let Pakistan solve its own problems like corruption(monster),handling agents(Kulbhushan,Nawaz sharif, Zardari nexus), Kashmir e.t.c. Already fighting the war of Americans (Afghanistan) since 1979 and not have recovered yet from its shocks still trying to clear that mess. Why to put ourselves in another quagmire. We have already suffered so much, as a nation this will be the end of it. One enemy in the form of India is enough, don't make new enemies.

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Saif Zulfiqar

Apr 13, 2017 04:32pm

Ms. Mazari, this has not been proved. Your opinion is OK but the alliance have decided they can curtail the terrorism.

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sher Jang Gilgit

Apr 13, 2017 05:04pm

Had the KSA not been on the fore front in forging the alliance than one would have been optimistic in the applicability of it in a way for the betterment of the whole Ummah irrespective of the sectarian divisions. But now the KSA is in the lead having only a grand vision of utilizing the resources of the alliance against Iran and thus perpetuating the trend which is here for the past fourteen hundred years that is the division of the whole Ummah on sectarian lines and thus seeking bloodshed for no reasons and the barbarism of utmost scales. This does not means that Iran is all innocent as it too is in a perpetual mission to inflict as much harm to its perceived enemy as it can and that is the KSA. But apart from all the developments in the above context is there any country, entity or a personality that can bring unity instead of disunity, peace instead of war, an alliance to bring about economic prosperity instead of military alliance and knowledge instead of ignorance?

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Talha

Apr 13, 2017 05:34pm

OIC was one forum meant for that purpose and you can see its credibility . This alliance is further going to divide the muslims and this is what our enemy wants.

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Nazar

Apr 13, 2017 07:22pm

We should join the alliance

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Ghani K

Apr 13, 2017 07:40pm

Addressing PTI's concerns Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif said, "The alliance has not been formed yet, the countries have only discussed the matters." - After joining the alliance without parliamentary discussion, Khawaja Sahib will tell us it is in the interest of 'Umah'.Anything for Al Saud is always for a brotherly country.

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saqib

Apr 13, 2017 08:01pm

Pti only needs vote from expats not worry about theit future we listen her speech believe me it was not convincing at all no logic just bad mouthing about gcc countries

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saqib

Apr 13, 2017 08:02pm

@Ghani K no body knows why on earth they are doing it when no one is interested in this debate

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Alba

Apr 14, 2017 01:57am

Everyone has their theories. She is no expert on military operations.

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Bupi

Apr 14, 2017 06:59am

@eye Dear coin always have two sides if one has benefit from certain things no doubt loss is also there & one should be ready to accept it.

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