ISLAMABAD: Former minister Muhammad Ali Durrani Tuesday said that the Saudi-led Islamic military alliance would play a crucial role in restoring peace and eradication of terrorism from Islamic countries. The appreciation of Islamic Military Alliance by China and United States of America reflect that this revolutionary step will help remove negative propaganda about Islamic countries, he said while talking to journalists Durrani said that the Islamic military alliance had given a clear message to the international community that the Muslims were united against terrorism and would defeat this menace through utmost struggle. “The formation of this military alliance was a strict and straightforward message to the extremists and terrorists that the Islamic countries would not tolerate any terrorist activity at their soils.” He added, “This was a very positive development in the existing international scenario. This would help in countering conspiracies against Islamic world.” He said that this joint initiative of Islamic countries had negated the international propaganda that Islamic world had some connections with terrorist organisations or involved in patronising these organisations. To a question, Muhammad Ali Durrani said it could not be presumed that any Islamic country which was not part of Islamic military alliance at this time would not have any role in fight again terrorism in future as it had been cleared that this alliance was not related to any specific country or sect but purely against terrorism. “The purpose of this alliance would be formulation of strategy against terrorism and paving the way for initiating joint efforts to tackle this issue. The initiatives to be taken under this alliance will be according to the law and guided principles of Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the United Nations.” He said this military army of Islamic countries under the leadership of former chief of army staff General (r) Raheel Sharif would be the sixth biggest army of the world, which would provide a platform to suggest policies for countering challenges being faced by Islamic countries. Pakistan, he said, had rendered immense financial and physical sacrifices in war on terror and inclusion of Pakistan in this alliance would help other countries to learn from the experiences of Pakistan. To a question, he said that Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman had given a message of hope to the Islamic world, especially Muslim youth. This Islamic military alliance is raising positive image of Islamic countries at international level which will directly benefit Muslim youth especially who is staying in western countries for education and employment purpose, he added. Published in Daily Times, November 29th 2017.