Gen Raheel Sharif appointed as chief of Saudi-led military coalition

Gen Raheel Sharif appointed as chief of Saudi-led military coalition Pakistan's ex-army chief General Raheel Sharif has been appointed to head the Saudi Arabia-led 39-nation military alliance formed last year to combat terrorism.While rumours about his new role was in circulation even before his retirement, the news about his appointment was confirmed by Pakistan's defense minister, Khawaja

Muhammad Asif, in a TV talk show on Friday night.

Gen Raheel had retired from service last November and was succeeded by the incumbent General Qamar Javed Bajwa. A recent video of the retired general in Medina at Masjid-e-Nabwi, one the holy sites for Muslims, went viral on social media with people of Pakistani origin chanting slogans, "Long live General Raheel Sharif, pride of Pakistan".

Khawaja Asif said that General Raheel's appointment as commander-in-chief of Saudi-led military coalition was made a few days ago and the government was taken into confidence about the decision.