General Raheel given extension as IMCTC Commander
Lahore (18th June, 2019): Pakistan’s former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has been issued first extension as Commander in chief of 39-countries under the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC).
According to Baaghi TV’s report, he had assumed position as the Commander of the Riyadh based Coalition Force at the end of May 2017. The Federal Cabinet had issued the NOC for the slot so he may be regularized in his service abroad after retiring from the Army.
Sources have confirmed the extension given to General (R.) Raheel Sharif in this capacity for one year. The General and his family have further been granted a five-year multiple visa of Saudi Arabia as he has already visited Pakistan four times after assuming the responsibilities in the Kingdom’s capital, Riyadh according to sources.
Sources have further confirmed that diplomatic ties between the countries has been on an upwards swing in the wake of recent visit of Prime Minster Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia where he attended Makkah summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The Prime Minister could not have a personnel meeting with the custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, however, as confirmed by Baaghi TV’s report, he had a detailed meeting where discussions were held between PM Khan and the Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Saeed Bin Al Malkiy has rushed to Riyadh for receiving fresh instructions from the Royal leadership and having important consultations with the high-ups concerned in his capital. It is likely that he will be staying in the Kingdom about two weeks and return to Islamabad with specific instructions catering to the various dimensions of bilateral ties between the two states.
Well placed diplomatic sources in conversation with The News on Sunday said that the “trajectory of the relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is on the ideal track”.
Moreover, Raja Ali Ejaz Pakistan’s ambassador for Saudi Arabia, who has in the past performed well in cementing ties of two brotherly countries had submitted concrete proposals for enhancing relationship further last month. It is expected that he would also come to Islamabad soon for consultations with the government here.
Stay tuned to Baaghi TV for more updates.
