Pakistan’s government has approved a former army chief to command the Saudi-led Islamic military alliance after months of uncertainty.
The move highlights the precarious domestic and regional tightrope Islamabad must walk as it seeks to balance ties with Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Mehdi Honardoost, said on Monday that Islamabad had notified officials in Tehran before the approval, but "it did not indicate that Iran was satisfied with this decision or it had accepted", the Iranian state-run Irna news agency reported.
Pakistan last week issued a no-objection certificate for recently retired former chief of army staff Raheel Sharif to head the alliance of 40 Muslim-majority countries that Saudi officials say is aimed at fighting terrorism in the region. Analysts say the alliance is more likely meant as a show of force by Riyadh aimed at Tehran.

Source: The National