Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has assured the National Assembly that Pakistan under no circumstances would join a military alliance against Iran.
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Asif said that 'Pakistan has the second largest Shia population in the world after Iran, so how can we even think of joining an anti Shia military alliance.'
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Acknowledging the existence of fault lines between the Sunni and Shia sects, Asif stressed that the government's efforts would remain focused on promoting religious harmony, both within the country and elsewhere in the region.
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He added that the 34 nation Saudi led coalition was still evolving but it was unclear how this coalition would work and what precise role its members would be playing.
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Asif clarified several times that Pakistan would never commit its military to any alliance against another Muslim country.
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