Muslim Unity
The recent OIC Summit in Malaysia was long on rhetoric, it is yet to be seen whether the reforms proposed for OIC become a fact of life. A lot of unity and emotions is given lip-service when muslim leaders come together but their commitment to the organization and to each other almost never comes to fruition. This is off course not true for bi-lateral relations which remain strong, as in the case of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. OIC presently is an Arab-centric organization, it does not really cater to the less-developed non-Arab muslim countries.
For stating the obvious, Mahathir has been pilloried from pillar to post in the western media. Unfortunately he used the word “Jews” in the same generic sense as many in the west describe a minuscule minority among the muslims who chose “terrorism” as their manner for expressing their anger as representative of all muslims everywhere e.g. Lt Gen William Boykin describing the “war against terrorism” as “Christians” against “Satan”. Nowhere in the Holy Quran is violence condoned and muslims, including that miniscule vocal minority who do not want to listen to reason and moderation, do not have a “corner” on terrorism. Terrorists exist in every religion and every race, in every ideology and in different beliefs. There are terrorists who kill innocent people because they do not believe in God and these are terrorists who kill in the name of God, whether they be Christians, Jews, muslims, Hindus, Buddhists etc. There are countries that practice “state terrorism” as a matter of national policy. Even though his speech was conciliatory, his remarks were taken out of context and made controversial, no mention was made about the Malaysian PM strongly deploring “suicide bombings” against Israel. Mahathir clarified that he was not calling the muslim to arms against jews, that he was only asking the muslims to look at the situation objectively, to resort to “strategic retreat” rather than engage in confrontation. However in being specific about one religion he laid himself open to charges of “anti-semitism”. This is rather ironic, Europe practiced the worst of anti-semitism pre-World War 2 and this directly contributed to a targetted pogrom by the German Nazis, the holocaust led to the elimination of more than 6 million Jews of Europe during World War 2. Not condonable by any means, the inherent and calculated brutality is a slur on the concept of humanity. A close and honoured friend of mine of Hungarian origin lost both his parents in the Nazi concentration camps, this abomination by Europeans on each other defies both human imagination and belief.
Incongruities will never cease, there was Russian President Putin on the OIC podium, invited to address the OIC Summit as an observer. In the past few years, most innocents killed in the world have been muslim, mainly in Bosnia and Chechnya, far exceeding Kashmir and Palestine in that order. Chechnya remains an active “killing ground” for Russian Federal troops. One wonders what pragmatism had the muslim leadership consider Russians for membership of the OIC? If things go on this way we may yet see LK Advani (or Narendra Modi) at an OIC Summit with India a full-fledged member in the foreseeable future, Ayodhya and Gujrat notwithstanding. To his credit, Musharraf had effectively blocked the move earlier for India to become a full-fledged OIC member.
Fresh from signing the Phalcon Radar System agreement, an offensive force-multiplier meant to overwhelm Pakistan’s defences and using their Consulates in Kandahar and Jalalabad to foment trouble among tribals on both sales of the Durand Line, India announced 12 “initiatives” or “concessions” to normalize Indo-Pak relations are interesting. In laying out the “confidence building measures” (CBMs), Yashwant Singh Sinha, the Foreign Minister wants India and Pakistan to first “resume talks to restore civil aviation links, including over-flight rights”. This is perhaps the most important issue for the Indians who have about 10 times more aviation flights affected per day than Pakistan. Since they are a victim of their own intransigence, why should we bail them out? India has twice unilaterally imposed bans, in 1971 and in 2002. Pakistan has rightfully asked for guarantees that India would not again impose an overflight ban out of the blue for real or unimagined transgressions by Pakistan. India refuses to give any guarantees to us. Their loss may be financial, there are also geo-political reasons for India to try and get over-flight bans removed, it is cut off from Afghanistan and Central Asia, US and European flights are made more costly by half. India proposes to then “discuss a resumption of rail link, following aviation talks”. One may well ask India why should “rail links” follow “aviation talks”, why not restore rail links now?
India then wants us to “resume bilateral sporting encounters, including cricket.” This has been a demand in India and Pakistan for some time, one most also commend the Indian Cricket Board that kept supporting the idea, Kapil Dev’s venom notwithstanding. If we can play hockey and volleyball, why not cricket? The fourth proposal would have India and Pakistan “issue visas in cities outside the two countries’ national capitals, to shorten travel”, an excellent suggestion. We can give permission on reciprocal basis for the same number of cities that the Indians give us, giving priority to Mumbai, Lucknow and Patna. The next Indian proposal is self-explanatory, “permit individuals aged at least 65 to cross into India by foot. Previously only groups could walk across, while individuals had to be on a bus”. No difference of opinion here, the physical constraint because of age must be recognized. The next point is, viz “run more buses on the New Delhi to Lahore route that now operates”. And why not? The traffic can increase manifold and it would be beneficial for the poor and the middle class who cannot afford air tickets. The next two suggestions are actually one in practice, “establish links between the two countries’ coast guards, before and after fishing season”, and also have “India and Pakistan stop arresting each other’s fishermen within certain sea areas”. Both are excellent suggestions, why not remove this major irritant along the maritime border?
The next Indian proposal wants India to “provide free medical treatment to 20 Pakistani children”, this is largely a symbolic media gesture as Pakistani children have as adequate measures for medical cover as Indians. However why look at a gift horse in the mouth? The next one is practical, “have India and Pakistan increase the staff of each nation’s Embassy”, Pakistan has been suggesting this for some time. Then India wants us to “consider ferry service between Mumbai and Karachi”. Not a bad idea, this will also increase trade activity. In the end they exhort us to “start new bus services, one between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad. The other would be a bus or rail link between Khokrapar in Sindh and Munaba in India’s Rajasthan state”. The bus or rail link between Sindh and Rajasthan is not a bad idea but the Srinagar – Muzaffarabad link is a clever gambit by the Indians to have the Line of Control (LoC) become a de-facto international border because of the use of passports, entry and exit formalities, etc. The bottom line to the Indian proposal is caution, one can consider all the proposals positively except (1) the overflights ban unless there are adequate guarantees and (2) the Srinagar – Muzaffarabad bus proposal only if the Kashmiris can travel to and from Indian-Held Kashmir without travel documents.
A most satisfying sequel of the OIC was the immediate visit of the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah direct from the OIC Summit at Putrajaya. The reciprocal love and warmth was spontaneous, the Crown Prince is very much loved in Pakistan. Saudi Arabia has been a good ally to us, always generous and always supportive. The visit underscores the fact that whereas we must always strive for muslim unity, bi-lateral relationship is far more meaningful and important.
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