Pakistan Ready to Host Talks: A Bridge Too far

News:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said Pakistan is ready to host talks between the United States and Iran amid US President Donald Trump’s claims of ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran. (Al-Jazeera.com)

Comment:

Pakistan’s recent offer to mediate between Iran and the U.S. reflects a pattern it has followed since its creation. This role has rarely been fully its own choice, nor has it consistently served its long term interests. Over the years, Pakistan has acted as a key U.S. ally in South Asia, first as a barrier against Soviet expansion during the Cold War, then as a bridge in the U.S.-China opening in the 1970s, and later as a frontline partner in the War on Terror. In each phase, it has provided logistical support and intelligence whenever the U.S. required it, and for these services its traitor leadership has gathered worldly riches. All these phases of supporting the U.S. have cost the Muslim Ummah in the form of blood and resources.

Pakistan’s actions seem less about genuinely bridging two strained countries and more about aligning with American interests, while potentially helping its own civilian and military leadership stay in power for a few more years.

The foreign policy adopted by Pakistan clearly serves colonial purposes and the foreign policy adopted by Iran is also serving colonial interests. The attitude of Pakistan will not resolve the issue. This ongoing conflict has resulted in one of the most significant oil supply disruptions in recent history, and if prolonged, this war is a threat to Pakistani boundaries. The fuel disruptions along with an ongoing war with the Afghan Government is a threat as well.

Current reality if seen through the lens of Islamic Foreign Policy shall be dealt with by a totally different approach. Firstly, Islam does not allow Muslims to sit and watch other helpless Muslims being targeted and butchered in their homes, which the Government of Pakistan has been doing for decades. Islam also does not allow Muslims to be friends with kuffar who have been harming Muslims and now need help in their affairs. In this example from history when following the Battle of Siffin, Muslims were internally divided, the Byzantine Emperor (Caesar) saw an opportunity to weaken the Islamic state by intervening on behalf of Muawiyah. He offered help against Hazrat Ali, to which Mu’aawiyah wrote to him saying, 'By Allah, if you do not desist and go back to your land, O cursed one, I shall reconcile with my cousin and we will unite against you, and I shall certainly expel you from all of your land! I shall keep pursuing you, and the earth, vast as it is, will be straitened for you.' At that, the Byzantine Emperor was scared off and abandoned his plans; he sent word seeking a peace treaty."

These were the lessons that our Sahabah (ra) learned from Allah (swt) and Rasool Allah (saw) has clearly forbidden seeking help from the enemies who like the U.S. have clearly and openly been harming Muslims.

[يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاء تُلْقُونَ إِلَيْهِم بِالْمَوَدَّةِ وَقَدْ كَفَرُوا بِمَا جَاءكُم مِّنَ الْحَقِّ يُخْرِجُونَ الرَّسُولَ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَن تُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ رَبِّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ خَرَجْتُمْ جِهَادًا فِي سَبِيلِي وَابْتِغَاء مَرْضَاتِي تُسِرُّونَ إِلَيْهِم بِالْمَوَدَّةِ وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ بِمَا أَخْفَيْتُمْ وَمَا أَعْلَنتُمْ وَمَن يَفْعَلْهُ مِنكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَاء السَّبِيلِ]

“O believers! Do not take My enemies and yours as trusted allies, showing them affection even though they deny what has come to you of the truth. They drove the Messenger and yourselves out ˹of Mecca˺, simply for your belief in Allah, your Lord. If you ˹truly˺ emigrated1 to struggle in My cause and seek My pleasure, ˹then do not take them as allies,˺ disclosing secrets ˹of the believers˺ to the pagans out of affection for them, when I know best whatever you conceal and whatever you reveal. And whoever of you does this has truly strayed from the Right Way.”[Al-Mumtahina: 1].

The Muslim Ummah is in a dire need of having a just ruler who will rule over them according to the ahkam (laws) of Allah (swt). Under the Khilafah (Caliphate) system the Muslims will not be divided in countries. They may live in different parts of the world and may speak different local languages but their identity will lie in Islam, no longer dictated by nationhood