The imam of the Kaabah, Dr Sheikh Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, was quoted on Monday by Radio Pakistan as saying that the militant Islamic State group and Al Qaeda have no links or concerns with Islam.

In an interview with a private news channel, the prayer leader of Makkah's Grand Mosque said that sectarianism is a curse which can be diminished by resolving mutual differences and following the 'Kalma-i-Haq'.

According to Radio Pakistan, the imam said that only the state was responsible for declaring jihad, not an organisation or a group of people, adding that the Holy Quran said that killing a single person without any reason is like killing the whole of humanity.

The imam also said that Muslim countries are facing difficulties due to mutual differences and intolerance, and refuted the perception that the Islamic Military Alliance was against any country.

Earlier this year in January, it was confirmed that former army chief General (retd) Raheel Sharif was made the chief of the 39-nation Islamic military coalition formed to combat terrorism.