Ishaq Dar: Pakistan to support joint Arab security forces

Pakistan has "very large" and "effective" armed forces that have proven their capabilities in conventional warfare, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in an interview with Al Jazeera, answering a question about Islamabad's possible position in the event of the formation of a unified structure in the Middle East to stop Israeli actions, Report informs.

Dar began his response by mentioning that "vis a vis UN Security Council, a mechanism could be chalked out".

"For example, they have [imposed] very serious sanctions on countries that don't listen to them. And that is a very severe economic dent or pain they can cause to any country."

He then went on to say that there had been talk along the lines of "some sort of combined security force" during recent interactions among Arab nations and the Arab League.

Dar added, "Why not? What"s wrong with that? They should [have a combined force]. And according to their own capacity, own strength, they should create some mechanism. Not for aggression purpose [sic], but for peaceful purpose[s], for stopping the aggressor, for stopping the occupier, for stopping someone who just doesn"t listen."

Where would a "nuclear-powered Pakistan" stand with that, asked Javed.

"Nuclear-powered Pakistan, obviously, as a member of the ummah, would discharge its duty," replied Dar.