This is not a strategist’s perspective neither a politician’s viewpoint. I am neither an economist nor a defense analyst. Nor am I an agent of anything (as I will soon be accused of). I am an individual who has seen the map of the world change over time through the decades. Recently we were one of 11 countries that were not allowed visas into UAE for “security reasons”. Many immediately assumed it was due to our status of not recognizing or accepting the State of Israel. Every opinion of any kind touching a topic, especially such as Israel is sure to find its way to the more defensive and sorely opposed. But the problem is a very relevant fact glaring in our faces. Israel is very much there. We cannot ignore it. It is a white flag with a blue star very much so on the world map. And Pakistan is cutting its own ties to the world by not acknowledging this fact, one which they soon will have to, in order to remain on diplomatic grounds with the rest of the world if it plans on being a state noted for progress and change.
The religious field will battle it out and possibly be even utilized as a scare tactic to stop the conversation in the tracks. However, we are hearing news that several Arab states are making a move towards its acceptance. One fact and statement forward on each of their stance is that the Palestinian State must also be recognized and given a fair and comprehensive solution. The only time peace talks have broken down is when no solution was provided which alleviated anything for the Palestinians. In the past, negotiations and peace plans have been deemed as unfair and unacceptable by the Palestinians making a deadlock for any further plans. This deadlock has also divided the world at large. If there was a solution, provided that dealt with reason, this would open the corridors of the world to each other, rather than the division it has caused. Neighboring countries were pitted against each other, divided by loyalty through religious sentiments. All sentiments are quite valid but detrimental for civilizations to progress into the state of the one world unity which is being much touted.
As a twitter trend ran calling out for a rejection of the State of Israel, a video was released in supposed response from our head of state. Who are we as a country to acknowledge it or not, as somebody quipped? Even if we declare the video that circulated as ‘fake’ it remains an undeniable fact that we may be a free country but our existence is not completely self-sufficient; neither do we have a flourishing economy which does not need anything from the outside world. Israel already exists as a country, any deniability makes us stuck in time which will falter all movements towards acceptance from the outside world.
The news out there is that the Abraham Accords seemed to have taken many by surprise (or did they?). United Arab Emirates, our neighbor and a favorite go-to place has been in the forefront, Bahrain, Oman and several others following suit. All these countries have made dramatic changes to their own nations, being global leaders both in terms of modernity, culture and progress, all the whilst retaining their Muslim identities. UAE alone, if taken as an example, culturally and financially stands strong as a shining example of true, accelerated development in the region. However, one thing has been said quite openly in statements from Muslim rulers that without negotiations with the Palestinian state with acceptable boundaries marked, as well as the acknowledgement of their state of existence, there would be no room for negotiations. One now awaits the answers, the movement is provisional and based on agreements, feasible and viable to all parties concerned. News came about Saudi Arabia, the centre stage of the Islamic world, but was decried in the media immediately. However, one has a quiet feeling that eventually given a reasonable adjustment in solutions, there will be forward movement there as well in the future.
In terms of Pakistan, in defense of what may seem like a stubborn course we are also hemmed at the line by factions which have terrorized our own people. In all due fairness, it has not been by choice that we remain stuck on many matters. Most of the ‘fervor’ that seeks to oppose us has been duly installed by our enemies, cleverly enough through provoking sentiments to create chaos. The goal that is intended is that the country neither progresses nor develops, nor does it grow into its own. Each positive development is opposed strongly and is utilized to destroy us. Rogue political parties in the past have been no lesser the devils that have played the Opposition card to dig further holes for the nation. Very much part of the “neighbors” lies Iran with its borders with Pakistan, again a very crucial geo-political, highly sensitized area of concern. Many a time, in the past Pakistan has remained locked in a conundrum trying to balance religious sensitivities along with political and diplomatic progress with the outside world.
However, for the immediate future moving into current affairs we have a newer outlook on things and a new government which has been making groundbreaking progress on all fronts. Whilst warring with the political opposition and now battling with Covid-19 and the world facing economic recession, there has been a lot of firefighting going on ground on all fronts. Will this also be the one to take us into a state of modernity with peaceful and diplomatic governance on all fronts?
We will need to start with open talks on the topic of Israel, at first at the very least. Diplomatic relations can come at the second stage when and only if they negotiate on the existence and recognition of the Palestinian people as well in return. All of this will NOT demolish our position as far as Kashmir goes as is volleyed back as a reason. Relating the two topics and melding them, given the current scenario, is not making any sense. Nobody is saying at this point that neither matter, every life suffering from oppression matters, in this case, from the grievances of the Palestinians to even the Jewish settlements. Every life matters. Both people have had a long-standing history buried deep into the soil of what is called the promised land. Somewhere in there lies the equilibrium of peace if world leaders sincerely deem that peace is the achievement for the region.
With the processes ongoing, it seems very likely that there will be some type of release for the world with a comprehensive and reasonable solution; a solution and demarcation of boundaries and lands which will alleviate the leaders responsibilities to their Muslim counterparts and neighboring countries to make the decision which is much needed.
The voicing of the opinions of government mechanisms all across the world are clear. There is a certainty in the steps given to us through the media about the move towards what seems inevitable. If there is a signal that peace talks are going to resume with negotiations that could facilitate a progress towards a reasonable peace process, Pakistan must be prepared to be onboard alongside their diplomatic counterparts to accept the state of the play. And why not? One must accept for all times that Israel is very much a part of that conversation especially for the Muslim world and it will be so even more in the near future.
(As Printed in Daily Times)
