23-04-2024 09:31 PM Jerusalem Timing

Pakistan Denies Reports on Arming Syria Insurgents

Pakistan Denies Reports on Arming Syria Insurgents

Pakistan denied on Thursday plans to arm Takfiri militants fighting the Syrian government, amid reports that Saudi Arabia has been holding Talks with Islamabad over sending weapons to these insurgents.

Pakistan denied on Thursday plans to arm Takfiri militants fighting the Syrian government, amid reports that Saudi Arabia has been holding Talks with Islamabad over sending weapons to these insurgents.

A Saudi source said Sunday that Riyadh was seeking Pakistani anti-aircraft and anti-tank rockets for Takfiris fighting Syrian government.

Sartaj Aziz, the prime minister's adviser on foreign affairs, told reporters Pakistan has not considered such a proposal.
"The reports about arms supply to Syria are totally baseless," Aziz said.

The Saudi source had pointed to a visit to Riyadh earlier this month by Pakistan's army chief, General Raheel Sharif, who met Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz.

Prince Salman himself last week led a large delegation to Pakistan, shortly after Saudi Arabia's chief diplomat Prince Saud al-Faisal visited the country -- a key ally.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam said at a regular briefing that Pakistan did not supply arms to "entities", meaning Takfiri militants.

"The policy guidelines for the sale of arms that we have are in line with the adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN charter," she said.

"We also have what is known as end users' certificate which ensures that our weapons are not resold or provided to a third country."