Islamabad: Pakistan is considering the US request to join a multi-nation coalition against the ISIS terror group which has now become the biggest threat to peace globally. Sources say that by joining the new coalition, Pakistan will receive funds under the CSF. The United states has requested Pakistan to join the Sahel to South Asia Alliance, and Pakistan is considering the request, Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah said.
However, both civil and military leadership is in a fix as joining the coalition will provoke domestic backlash. “Joining a new war will be difficult to sell in the country due to opposition from political and religious groups,” said a security official. But not choosing to be a part of the group may increase isolation of the country which is already neck deep in international criticism for “not doing enough” against the war on terror. Keeping Saudi Arabia's response to Pakistan's refusal to join a coalition led by Riyadh in Yemen, the region finds itself in quite a fix. “Now joining the new group may further anger Saudis who are already not happy with Pakistan over the issue of Yemen,” the official said.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf of Imran Khan and hardline Jamaat-e-Islami party are expected to protest against any move to coalition led by the US. Experts believe that the decision to join anti-IS alliance would need support of the Parliament where any move to sanction is unlikely to succeed. However, strategically Pakistan would not gain much by sitting outside as it will deprive itself of any opportunity for joint trainings, meetings or monetary assistance like the Coalition Support Funds (CSF) under which it has received billions of dollars, experts say.
Government sources said that by joining the new coalition, Pakistan can expect that funds under the CSF may continue to flow, which otherwise are expected to be stopped after 2015.
