Amid the deafening chants of resurgence, Pakistan seems increasingly embroiled in suicidal entanglements from which it would be better to stay away. Among several others, there are two perspectives that require pragmatic and focused attention, which should not be the subject of crude self-promotion.
Reports are emerging from various sources that Pakistan may contribute troops to the international stabilization force being formed for Gaza. The 20-point Trump Gaza plan envisions, among other goals, an immediate ceasefire, the exchange of prisoners, including the remains of those killed, the deployment of a multinational stabilization force to secure and demilitarize Gaza, followed by a Gulf-funded reconstruction of the enclave into a terrorism-free economic zone.
When Gaza has been completely demilitarized under the supervision of independent observers and is assured that it does not pose a threat to Israel, its security forces will gradually withdraw and the charge will be handed over to the international stabilization force to oversee its security.
The peace agreement aims to legitimize the Israeli genocide. Countries participating in the implementation of the process, in one way or another, would be practical intermediaries to ensure this. There is no mention of a Palestinian state in the document and no process is outlined by which the genocide committed by Israel over more than two years will be accounted for, encompassing more than 75,000 people killed, thousands maimed, an entire population made homeless and hospitals, schools and offices razed. This is a brazen display of a sinister, premeditated and murderous pursuit of Israel, fully aided and abetted by the United States.
Despite the ceasefire in place, blatant violations continue by a trigger-happy Israel, determined to erase the word Palestine from international memory. The Israeli killing spree continues unabated daily, but there are no controls in place to stop it: the United States is silent, as is much of the Muslim world that helped make the deal possible.
Israel’s expansionist and genocidal designs are no secret. The same things intensified over time. Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Iran – virtually all countries in the region have been victims of Israeli expansionist aggression, which has now assumed barbaric and genocidal proportions, as demonstrated in the Gaza Strip. Since this frenzy gained support from the United States and part of the Western world, it has continued unchecked, only expanding its operational repertoire in the process. This is the same expansionist and genocidal policy that was also legitimized by the Abraham Accords.
Complaining about the complicity of the Muslim world, Lieutenant General (R) Asad Durrani wrote in one of his recent articles, “Exhausting the Non-Options”: “Rallying around Trump to put our stamp on the plight of the Palestinians is a display of servility, hard to beat by any mafia claiming to be loyal to the boss.” In reality, the capitulation of the Muslim world to American diktat has left behind a nauseating feeling. We plunged into a free fall, breaking through all the barriers of wisdom and sagacity. We rush forward as a sign of our unwavering submission to a cause that conflicts with the founding principles of the State.
Being part of the mechanism to keep a dishonest deal in place by sending troops to join peace forces would be going too far. Given our history of fighting the Palestinians in Jordan in the past, we must be extremely cautious before venturing into a trap whose horrific consequences could exceed our worst judgments.
There is no Palestinian state to protect in this deal, but we will gain a lot of notoriety if we participate in this effort to liquidate what rightfully belongs to the people who inhabit the land. Since the time of the Quaid, we have been championing this cause in all bilateral, regional and international forums. What is this unknown constraint that we need now to violate its sanctity?
Such an approach becomes even more dangerous in the absence of national consensus on the issue. The nation stands united with the Palestinian cause and against a U.S.-imposed deal as well as any steps Pakistan might consider taking — specifically, an affirmative decision to join the proposed peace force, which will work under U.S. command and which will inevitably target Hamas for disarmament.
Instead of further dividing a nation, it would be better to take Parliament and political leaders into confidence. Support should be sought from leaders who command the respect of the people of this country and who can play a role in expressing their thoughts and feelings effectively and productively. Making a decision regardless of reliance on available forums can cultivate more fault lines in an already turbulent national landscape.
Closer to home, a crisis is brewing with Afghanistan. Negotiations between the two countries, brokered by Turkey and Qatar, are at an impasse because Afghanistan does not want to commit anything in writing regarding its role in the elimination of terrorist centers operating from its soil, mainly those of the TTP. Pakistan, for its part, has rightly insisted that such engagement is the essential prerequisite for progress in preventing terrorist activities infiltrating from across the border.
While it is necessary to address the outstanding issues dispassionately, the aggravating statements issued by officials from both countries have further marred a tense situation. Let’s face the facts. This region has been plagued by wars for much of the last half century, with Afghanistan and Pakistan most affected by the upheavals, mainly due to imperfect and unbalanced decision-making. It is the continuation of a sequence of conflicts that the two countries are facing today. This will not go away by persisting in a relationship of acrimony and distrust.
War is not a solution to this crisis. Peace will only come when both sides overcome their mutual antipathy and sit down to resolve their outstanding differences. Having suffered the ravages of bloodshed, Afghanistan and Pakistan should demonstrate whole-hearted commitment to saving the region from the prospect of another deadly conflict.
For Pakistan, political constraints should not have an impact on its foreign policy making. It is necessary to work for internal stability and chart pioneering paths to cultivate relations with the outside world. Only such a policy will withstand the ravages of time.
The writer is a political and security strategist and the founder of the Regional Peace Institute. He is a former special assistant to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and heads the PTI’s policy think tank. He tweets @RaoofHasan
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policies of PK Press Club.tv.
Originally published in The News
