Pakistan and Arab World: Security Cooperation

[davidbfpo]

Ahmed Rashid, the author has this BBC News article that starts with:

The appointment of Pakistan's former army chief General Raheel Sharif to head a 39-country Saudi-led military alliance of Muslim countries to combat terrorism has set off intense debate in Pakistan and in the region.

After months of silence from Gen Sharif, Pakistan's defence ministry has now said that both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have come to an agreement on his posting.

(He ends with) There has been longstanding criticism from politicians and the media that Pakistan has been ignoring Iran, even though it is an important neighbour. So far Gen Sharif's appointment has only increased that criticism and created considerable unease as to the future course of Pakistan's foreign policy.

Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39525449

Hamid Hussain has a longer commentary, with several intriguing parts, e.g. the Israeli-Saudi relationship, on the attachment.