Pakistani scholar hails Saudi role in war on terror

The Chairman of the Council of Pakistan Ulema (Religious Scholars) has hailed Saudi Arabia’s role in the fight against terrorism, as well as its support for the Muslim Ummah, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported on Sunday. Mohamed Tahir Ashrafi reiterated the belief that Saudi Arabia is the “spirit” of the Muslim world, pointing out that his country maintains a relationship at all levels within the kingdom.

“There has been cooperation with Saudi Arabia in so many fields since the seventies,” explained Ashrafi, “including the political, cultural, scientific and religious areas.” He stressed the support given by King Salman to Pakistan. “King Salman Bin Abdel-Aziz’s support for Pakistan and the scholars there cannot be denied, so we stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia in all of its positions.”

Speaking on the fringes of a conference in Egypt a few days ago, Ashrafi made a verbal attack against Iran, claiming that Iranian “interference in the affairs of Islamic countries” is a “big dilemma.” He suggested that Iran is planning to cause many more crises in the region and to “plant separation and hypocrisy in the name of religion.”

He rejected any Iranian interference in the affairs of the Arab world, especially Saudi Arabia. “This interference is rejected in every aspect,” he said, insisting that Shia expansionism in Sunni areas is meant to cause “separation” and “bloodshed.”