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Our Foreign Policy Gap
By Farakh A. Khan:
What is Pakistan’s foreign policy regarding Middle East following one year of Arab Spring? Firstly we have to define what is Middle East. Some people consider the Arabic-speaking people including countries of North Africa as Middle East. The Arabic speaking people of North Africa claim to be descendants of Pharaohs in Egypt while others claim to be descendants of Berbers. Others include Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan also as part of Middle East. For this article let us take the Arabic speaking area as Middle East.
The Arab Spring starting in Tunisia one year ago shook the traditional long-standing dictators/kings in the Arabic speaking world. The movement was peaceful in some countries while it was all out war in others (Libya, Yemen and Syria). In all cases the transition from dictatorship to democracy will not be easy and one year on people and former rulers are finding the new system difficult to digest. What is common is that many of these states are falling back on Islam for an ill-defined system of governance. There also strong tribal links in many Arab countries, which is anti democracy. Many Arab countries saw monarchs fall only to be replaced by life long repressive dictatorships with no change in the life of the people. Led by Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Arab Spring is now resurfacing in many Arab countries. Let us hope present change does not lapse into a new form of dictatorship based on religion.
‘Operation Unified Protector’ was launched air attacks in Libya to ‘protect civilians’ threatened by Qaddafi’s army on March 27, 2011 by 14 countries under Nato umbrella. For the US the cost was $1.1 billion. It is significant to note that Nato did not loose a single soldier in the campaign where aircrafts and drones were used (Daalder, Ivo H and Stavidis, James. Nato’s victory in Libya. Foreign Affairs. March/April, 2012). This may be the future of warfare. After more than a year of removal of Qaddafi Libya is drifting into chaos. Tribalism and warlords have not allowed federalism to take root (Pack, Jason. Federalism in Libya: tried and failed. Cutting Edge. April 26-May 2, 2012).
It has been claimed that Qaddafi fed many of our past and present leaders with dollars. Perhaps this is the reason why we still have Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Pakistan’s interest in Libya is more than oil. During the upheaval of anti Qaddafi movement we were told that hundreds of Pakistani workers were uprooted. We need new job opportunities under the new Libyan government.
Tunisia has al Nahda Islamic party in coalition after ouster of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. However the Salafi group is out to use force to get power. In Yemen Ali Abdullah Saleh was removed from power and is presently facing Al Qaeda attacks. In Libya Muammar al-Qaddafi was killed. In Bahrain House of Khalifa is under threat (Ajami, Fouad. The Arab Spring at one. Foreign Affairs. March/April, 2012).
Egyptian Spring managed to get Hosni Mubarak out but his military is still in command and their Spring is still not at an end and the gestation period is continuing. Meanwhile Muslim Brotherhood, Salafi groups and other pressure groups are jostling for power. The Egyptian army (Supreme Council of the Armed Forces) is the most powerful group used to ruling the country is not going to easily give up its powerful hold. The army has built a huge commercial empire and need to keep it intact (Mousa, Sarah. The return of Tahrir? Cutting Edge. May 3-9, 2012). After the first free presidential elections (May 24-26) in Egyptian history two candidates have emerged. The run-off presidential election is now between Mubarak era prime minister former air marshal Ahmed Shafiq and Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammad Morsi. The final outcome is hotly debated. Many feel the two candidates are unacceptable since one is Mubarak man and the other wants to impose Islamic government in a multi religious society. There are also cries of foul by loosing candidates. Behind the scene the army is still all-powerful ruling through Supreme Council of Armed Forces. Although the catalyst for change was the uprising of the people of Egypt but it was the army coup, which finally removed Hosni Mubarak. In Syria only an army coup can remove President Bashar Asad regime but by now the opposition has been militarised and lot more bloodshed is expected. We can only speculate what form of democracy shall finally emerge in the Middle East used to kings and dictators. The core issues of unemployment, corruption and soaring prices have been lost in the din of Arab Spring.
Arabic speaking world has a long history of oppressive kingdoms, which are still continuing, in some countries. In 1516 the Turks created the Ottoman Empire. At the turn of the 20th century Middle East experienced the Great Arab Revolt against the Turks followed by ‘liberation’ under kings. In late 19th century Jamaluddin Afghani declared kingship as un-Islamic. For this he was kicked out of India and proceeded to Egypt where he was again deported to Turkey with the same result. He finally ended up in France and eventually in Russia. In recent times book by a non Muslim George Antonins ‘The Arab awakening’ published in 1938 has been a source of inspiration. More recently book by Gene Sharp ‘From dictatorship to democracy’ first published in 1993 has had an impact on the Arabic speaking world even though the setting is in non-Arabic world. Sharp has in detail recommended non-violent means to topple dictators.
With all the turmoil in the Middle East Pakistan has remained a silent spectator. The question to be asked is who controls our foreign policy? I do not have a ‘chira’ (bird) like Najam Sathi or a ‘mokhbar’ (informer) as claimed by TV star Azizi but I can speculate. Most people would say it is the GHQ directly or indirectly controls our foreign policy. The blithering civilian idiots cannot be trusted. The army top brass has its own limitations and look up to US for directions since military supplies and to some degree funds come from them (Rahman, Tariq. Who controls foreign policy in Pakistan? The Express Tribune. April 10, 2012). Saudi Arabia is our master in more than one way. They are Pakistan’s spiritual home and oil depot. To a large extent Pakistan’s Middle Eastern policy is dictated to us by Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia brokered a deal between Nawaz Sharif and Gen Musharraf and when Nawaz Sharif flew back to Pakistan the Saudi leadership intervened directly in our internal affairs and whisked off Nawaz Sharif. The Arab Spring is a threat to Saudi Arabia the worst form of dictatorship/kingship where the House of Saud controls the kingdom through hundreds of princes. Saudi king has marched his army into Bahrain to prop up the kingdom against the Arab Spring. The Saudi king knows that if Arab Spring is successful in Bahrain his kingdom would be next on the list. In the long term Saudi kingship is doomed. Nevertheless the Saudi kings and princes have directly interfered in Pakistan’s internal affairs. In case of Nawaz Sharif’s exile and aborted return Saudi king openly interfered in support of military dictator Gen Musharraf. People also claim the Taliban and Sunni organisations are being funded by Saudi and UAE people. The Saudi hardliner Salafi brand of Islam is also promoted in Pakistan. The Iranian government counter Saudi manoviours leading to sectarian clashes. Pakistan’s leadership is hostage to Saudi Arabian involvement in our internal and external affairs. The Saudis’ are hostage to the Americans because of oil.
Having just come back from Jordan all does not seem to be well there. Corruption, acute water shortage and spiralling prices of basic goods may not keep away the Arab Spring for long.
Middle East is also divided by Shia Sunni rift and ethnic/tribal divide. Sunni minority is ruling in Syria and Bahrain. The rift is more serious in Saudi Arabia and Iraq where minority Shias or Sunnis are treated as second-class citizens. Governance through religion will create risky problems. Functioning democracy is the only option for future Middle East.
Pakistan’s foreign policy regarding Americans is complex. Musharraf give a blank cheque to former President Bush following 9/11 to save his seat. The civilian government brought in 2008 continued Musharraf policy. The killing of Osama in Abbottabad followed by air attack on Salala check post in North Waziristan Agency jolted the civilian and military leadership. For Pakistan American goodwill is crucial and dire economic necessity.
The ire of the people of Pakistan against the Americans was too difficult for the Pakistan army to handle, which normally determines our foreign policy. They passed the buck on to the civilian leadership. The decision was again too hot for the civilian leadership caught in its own corruption scandals and the issue was placed on the shoulders of the parliament. In early April 2012 joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate debated on the revised recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) regarding future ties with America. The core issue was opening of Nato supplies linked to stopping drone attacks with Maulana Fazlur Rehman and religious parties and groups taking a hard line. Cameron Munter the US ambassador has wooed Rehman. Toned down recommendations was passed back to the PM who in turn absolved any responsibility regarding future relations with US. After the Chicago Nato meeting the US Pakistan relations are at an all time low. This will impact on our Middle East policy.
Pakistan’s Middle East policy is based on Saudi desires, American threats and Pakistani needs. We need oil and our large workforce in Middle East is dependent on Arab money. Nevertheless we should start with changing the name of Qaddafi Stadium.
Filed under: UAE, USA, World · Tags: Middle East, Pakistan, people, Saudi
23 Responses to "Our Foreign Policy Gap"
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Excellent analysis. We need more articles this this on PTK.
Good colomn indeed:
In my view, Pakistan should be concerned with how to put its own house in order than get involved in international issues. Pakistani politicians and generals may think they are in the league of big players. But it is an illusion. Why not worry about the problems at home first. That is far more important now.
“the whole history of Pakistan and US relationship is based on a financial. Based on rent.” – Hassan Abbas
1. Retired Pakistani Military is the police in Bahrain.
2. Saudi Arabia is stealing the Water of Jordan.
3. Pakistani military has nuke in Saudi Arabia.
4. Pakistan will never be able to survive without patronage.
5. Even Jinah’s Foreign policy was to milk the teats of America and be a client state
so why blame the military. If you are want to be a client state then you are no better than Israel.
6. You think Saudi Arabia gives money for charity or to be the leader of muslims under
their subjugation.
The name “Gaddafi stadium” is a reminder to the pakistani people of the foolishness, deceits and bootlicking inherent in pakistani policies. It reminds the pakistanis that they are, and have to be, bootlickers of arabs and the arabs’ ill-begotten, lazy-lascivious, obscene money and their fascist religion.
This may indeed be a very good article, but to my non-expert eyes, Pakistan’s Middle East policy has always seemed clear, consistent, and two-pronged:
(1) Islamic subordination to the Arab world, particularly to the preeminent Saudis. So Arabs play an important and culturally accepted role in the internal affairs of Pakistan of the kind that Pakistani leaders don’t in the internal affairs of Arabs.
(2) Leveraging of Islamic identity to meet its internal financial needs and to attempt constructing a religio-political ‘alliance’ to counter India’s power and size.
Neither prong has worked very well. The first has led to questions whether Pakistan’s Islamic subordination is Islamic or not. The second, far more substantive prong has been dulled owing to a number of reasons, relating to:
(a) internal contradictions and problems within the Middle East/arab world itself,
(b) Pakistan’s own subordinate and sliding position in the matrix of Middle East calculations, and
(c) strategies and actions of other countries, including the US and India, which have their own goals and relationships with the Middle East, often at odds with Pakistan’s.
Renaming the Qaddafi Stadium after the Arabs have thrown Qaddafi out may be merely a continuation of Pakistan’s traditional Middle East policy of following the Arab lead.
kaalchakra is right.
the pak policy on middle east is clear.
Bootlick the rich arab “brothers”, ignore the poor arab “not-so-brothers”, and show off hate towards jews, Israel, christians and hindus in order to become acceptable among muslim supremacists. But for these muslim supremacists Pakistan is just another inferior lower-race muslim nation.
Pakistanis must first realize that to defend or glorify islam means to become slaves of arabs and defend a totalitarian, arrogant, backward ideology.
Some pakistanis have begun to realize this the hard way. Must more hardships follow till all pakistanis realize this?
Time for a grown up and independent Pakistan to be a player…!!! Time to trade Dr. Afridi for Aafia Siddiqui….. if BOTH are willing…… Pakistan was spineless to release Raymond Davis while letting Aafia Siddiqui rot in US prison… Sentenced by Zionist zealot judge to 86 years in prison for hurting no-one, doing NO damage…
“Pakistanis must first realize that to defend or glorify islam means to become slaves of arabs and defend a totalitarian, arrogant, backward ideology.”
Maybe Pakistan should reject self hating Muslims first! If the People of Pakistan don’t defend Islam, then they remain neutral as the emenies of Islam weaken and destroy their families and nation… That is surrender to the enemies of the majority of the people of Pakistan… That is a treason…….
to thomas
1)
It is unfair that an islam-glorifier writes under a christian name. That is a cheapskate trick.
2)
It is islam which is weakening Pakistan. It is islam making pakistanis into slaves (mental, physical and political) of arabs, and into haters of their hindu blood-relatives.
3)
Islam is keeping pakistanis backward and filling their hearts with irrationality, craziness and self-glorification based on self-deceit.
4)
The critics and rejecters of islam are the real friends of the pakistanis. Flatterers are never the true friends.
I know why most pakistanis will have difficulty understanding these plain truths. I don’t know how you will react to this. As a typical muslim or as a rational open-minded person.
to ahem
1) I am not an Islam Glorifier, though I may be guilty of defending Islam. I simply believe that all of the great religions have their good and bad points, and that Islam is no different in that regard….. I glorify none of them and condemn none of them.
2) I am, sorry if using my legal given name when I comment causes you distress, I like to represent myself as who I am name.
3) I see no flattery in my post, or glorification either of Islam, or Pakistan…
4) I am neither a Muslim as you have ventured nor a Christian either in spite of my name and my birth by Christ1ian Parents… I am in fact a lapsed follower to the Buddha. I was born in Detroit, former auto capital of the USA, but now it’s a post urban wasteland of blight and poverty. I now live on a small island by the State of Rhode Island.
5) If [Approximately 97 percent of Pakistanis are Muslim.] as Wikipedia reports, then your views are not widely supported there.
What alternative to Islam do you find workable as the replacement for Islam…??
6) With my country [USA] wantonly killing Muslims and branding them as enemies, I feel the need for ME personally to do what I can to condemn
the Obama CIA’s wanton murder of Muslims policy and the general demonization of Muslims by whomever I encounter, including ahem……
7) I am a true believer in Imran Khan …..even though he [[could]] turn out to be just as bad as the past corrupt leaders that Pakistan has had to endure… Imran Khan does seem to me to be Pakistan’s best hope, perhaps her only hope… I wish I could vote for him……..
8) I am, also a fan of SYYED MOHUMMED JAWAID IQBAL GEOFFREY OF SLARPORE, BRIGHTON and PACIFIC PALISADES…… A true man of the word
and defender of Aafia Siddiqui….. when all of Pakistan had failed her and spinelessly returned Raymond Davis while letting Aafia rot in prison after a Zionist New York judge who hates Muslims gave her 86 years for hurting no one…. COWARDLY of your leaders… SHAME…!!!!!
I think Pakistan should follow an independent policy which benefits Pakistan and Pakistanis. if Pakistanis are working in Bahrain as police i do consider that as beneficial for them and so cannot see what is wrong with that. If there are disputes between S Arabia and it’s neighbours they are of no consequence to our relations which must be based on our benefit. Finally regarding the posts of Afia it is sad that she was fighting for a pan islamic struggle being a Pakistani she should have put in her efforts for her own country. As an Islamist her release should surely not be the responsibility of Pakistan alone.
to thomas
You are a confused man. I do not vilify muslims – I pity them for being caught in this inescapable mental slavery under islam. The real culprit is an ideology that is totalitarian and fascistic and fools so many human beings into thinking it – and it alone – can bring them salvation.
“to thomas
You are a confused man. I do not vilify muslims”
ahem…… Where do I say that you vilify Muslims…???
Are you referring to this?: 5) If [Approximately 97 percent of
Pakistanis are Muslim.] as Wikipedia reports, then your views are not widely supported there.
Would you please answer my question: What alternative to Islam do you see as workable as the replacement for Islam…??
ahem,
Do you advocate Muslims convert to another religion……. or do you think they should cease to believe in a divine being(s) altogether and become atheists….. or do you have some other idea what Muslims should believe or not believe after they forsake Islam…???
Thank You in advance for your reply…
Thomas
Here is an analogy-
A person has a golden poisonous snake around his neck and he thinks it is a diamond necklace. The point is poison not the necklace.
Get rid of the poison – replace it with whatever except the poisonous snake…Or remove the poison from snake and keep the snake or put the snake in a box and leave it at home…
Yeah…….. Milestogo I wish you would let ahem answer MY question.. about HIS ideas…….. but I will rise to your bait……. No. 1 It is not not “a person” with the “golden poisonous snake around [the] neck” …. It is 97% of 18O,OOO,OOO or 174,6OO,OOO…!!! That’s a lot of snakes…!!!!! … according to YOUR analogy….. I’d say the “remove the poison from snake and keep the snake ” option is the best…… from my point of view…..But it leaves the question…. Which part of the snake has the poison…??? Also the danger, that the serpent sans poison…… would not be able to defend itself from, the many predators afoot in the real world… And Or…. What are the true chances your 3% with your negative message on Islam, will prevail over the 97% who positively believe they possess gold…????? My guess would be 1.5% with your negative message……. 3% with a positive message…!!!
to thomas
The first alternative to islam is to stop being practitioners of a fascism centred around Mohammad and kuran and 7th century arab way of life. What then will come – let us see. First human beings have to freed from the fascism. Then they will find their ways. During all this we need sagacious honest leaders who (help) reduce hate, anger, sorrow, bitterness, vengeance, violence etc. A >god< who can give nothing better than islam is not worthy of being called a god.
A more in-depth answer I do not have. Things have to develop in a spirit of freedom of inquiry and peaceful exchange. Don't replace an old fascism with a new one.
Its a reality. Slaves do fear freedom.
Fascism is the convergence of business and government……..
n
1. any ideology or movement inspired by Italian Fascism, such as German National Socialism; any right-wing nationalist ideology or movement with an authoritarian and hierarchical structure that is fundamentally opposed to democracy and liberalism
2. any ideology, movement, programme, tendency, etc, that may be characterized as right-wing, chauvinist, authoritarian, etc
3. prejudice in relation to the subject specified: body fascism
Fascism
— n
The political movement, doctrine, system, or regime of Benito Mussolini in Italy, which encouraged militarism and nationalism, organizing the country along hierarchical authoritarian lines
Maybe religious fascism, but not fascist religion.. in my view……
In the end, it’s just like calling religion stupid…. Neither word fits very well…!!! Body fascism,…?? WTF would that be…???
Give it enough time, Neil Armstrong could become the moon god.
And this blog entry could become divine evidence.
Protected by Neil Armstrong himself.
to thomas
Whatever origin the word “fascism” may have had – today we can speak of fascist religions too. Electron as understood by J J Thomson in 1887 is not the same as understood in the Feynman theory (Quantum Electrodynmics, QED) of 1950′s and later. Words acquire new connotations and uses as time passes.
An ideology that regards someone or some book as final, perfect and uncriticizable becomes a fascism-totalitarianism centred around this person or this book. That is the unavoidable development of/in islam. And muslims are proving me to be correct – especially in the islamic paradise of Pakistan – and also elsewhere, even in India.
And when we are writing on a pakistani forum we have to concentrate on islam and its fascism.