{"id":12709,"date":"2026-05-14T11:57:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T06:27:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/?p=12709"},"modified":"2026-05-14T12:07:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T06:37:08","slug":"imctc-pakistan-role-islamic-nato","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/imctc-pakistan-role-islamic-nato\/","title":{"rendered":"Pakistan Seeks Expanded Islamic NATO Defence Cooperation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), which is also known as \u201cIslamic NATO\u201d, the country has been making efforts for intensifying cooperation in defence and counter terrorism with other participating countries.Pakistan has been making efforts for strengthening Defence and Counter-Terrorism cooperation with other participating countries under the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) or \u201cIslamic NATO.\u201d Saudi Arabia, led this coalition, was established in 2015 to share ideas, priorities and strategies for combating terrorism and extremism. During the last couple meetings between the military leadership and IMCTC officials, intelligence sharing, regional security, military training, and institution cooperation were discussed. Pakistan sees deeper coalition engagement in line with its overall regional security and defence posture. The move has garnered global interest because of its potential implications for geopolitical dynamics in South Asia and the Middle East.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Islamic NATO Defence Cooperation and Pakistan\u2019s Strategic Role<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) was formed in Saudi Arabia in 2015 at the head of the Islamic nation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">IMCTC is an anti-terrorism cooperation group of the countries with Muslim major citizens.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the current members of the alliance is Pakistan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Collective security is the basis that made the alliance collectively known as \u201cIslamic NATO.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">IMCTC encourages the sharing of information among the member countries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the coalition&#8217;s primary goals is collaboration on trainings and capability development.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Recently the Secretary General of IMCTC, Major General Mohammed Bin Saeed Al-Moghedi, paid a visit to Pakistan during the reign of the Defence Minister, perched in a citadel overlooking the sea, for Defence affairs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Security and counter-terrorism cooperation was discussed during the meetings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Raheel Sharif was once the Commander of IMTC of Pakistan Army.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Countries from Asia, Africa and the Middle East are part of the coalition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pakistan and IMCTC agreed to further strengthen cooperation among institutions to combat terrorism and extremism.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Issues discussed were intelligence coordination and rehabilitation policies for elements of extremists.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">IMCTC held a week-long anti-terrorism training programme in Pakistan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Military diplomacy is an integral part of Pakistan&#8217;s foreign policy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It&#8217;s not against a particular country or religion, the coalition says.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Regional defence alignments can be expected to be affected by the alliance, according to security experts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stronger cooperation likely to boost Pakistan&#8217;s strategic relations with Gulf countries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The issue of counter-terrorism continues to be a significant security issue for member countries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The coalition also focuses on combating terror financing and extremist ideology.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The rising significance of IMCTC also highlights the importance of multilateral partnerships in raising security in international politics.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Defence Alliances &amp; International Relations PYQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Exam Name<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Year<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Question<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Options<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Answer<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">UPSC Prelims<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2021<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">NATO stands for:<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(A) National Treaty Alliance Organization (B) North Atlantic Treaty Organization (C) Northern Allied Treaty Organization (D) National Atlantic Trade Organization<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(B) North Atlantic Treaty Organization<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">SSC CGL<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2022<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Which country leads the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC)?<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(A) Pakistan (B) Iran (C) Saudi Arabia (D) Turkey<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(C) Saudi Arabia<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">CDS Exam<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2020<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The primary objective of IMCTC is:<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(A) Space Research (B) Counter Terrorism Cooperation (C) Trade Promotion (D) Climate Change<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(B) Counter Terrorism Cooperation<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">RRB NTPC<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2021<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Which former Pakistan Army Chief served as commander of IMCTC?<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(A) Pervez Musharraf (B) Raheel Sharif (C) Ashfaq Kayani (D) Asim Munir<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(B) Raheel Sharif<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">State PCS<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2023<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">NATO was established in which year?<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(A) 1945 (B) 1947 (C) 1949 (D) 1955<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(C) 1949<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">SSC CHSL<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2022<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">IMCTC mainly focuses on combating:<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(A) Climate Change (B) Terrorism and Extremism (C) Trade Deficit (D) Food Crisis<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(B) Terrorism and Extremism<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/pcos-renamed-pmos-landmark-global-change-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PCOS Renamed PMOS<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Conclusion: IMCTC Cooperation<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pakistan is increasingly focussing on collective security and regional defence cooperation with the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMC) through expanding their cooperation. The alliance aims to counter new security threats in the Islamic world by means of intelligence sharing, military training and counter-terrorism co-ordination. Pakistan&#8217;s greater engagement can build its strong relationship with the countries in the Gulf and help raise its profile in regional security issues. But there is a possibility of longer-term issues with the effectiveness of the alliance regarding geopolitical rivalry and national interests amongst the members. In an ongoing era of continued challenges from terrorism and regional instability, multilateral security partnerships, such as IMCTC, are likely to stay a key facet of global security cooperation.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), which is also known as \u201cIslamic NATO\u201d, the country has been making efforts for intensifying cooperation in defence and counter terrorism with other participating countries.Pakistan has been making efforts for strengthening Defence and Counter-Terrorism cooperation with other participating countries under the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) or [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":12710,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-defense-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12709"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12709\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12713,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12709\/revisions\/12713"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}