Should Pakistan recognize Israel?
Just as 'India' and now 'Modi' are triggering words in Pakistan, Israel is also another. Particularly, the religious community does not hold favorable views towards Israel, primarily because of the latter's forced occupation of the Palestinian land, including the Aqsa Mosque, the first Qibla of the Muslim, in Jerusalem city. Forcibly, our political leaders who listen little to the popular opinions are also in the same queue. In the recent past, when the news of Israeli plane's landing in Pakistan was rumored, the same opposition that claims to be liberal in outlook bombarded harsh words against the government's any possibility of a thaw in diplomatic relations with Israel. Such an attitude convinces us to believe that all mainstream political parties of the country are more or less right-wing parties on the face. Over the years, this question, whether Pakistan should recognize Israel, is playing hide-and-seek. As a matter of principle, not accepting Israel as a state is costing us very dearly. We had some opportunities in the past -most recently during the Musharraf government- but were constrained by the religious lobby and political scoring by pseudo-liberal parties. Given the paradigm shift in global politics, it is in the best interest of the country to address this question.
Why Pakistan need to recognize Isreal? One needs to understand this matrix in a broader perspective. Firstly, it will benefit us to extract the USA's favors. It is said that the US Congress is the occupied territory of Israel. Recent Trump administration is brimmed with Zionists, as has always been the case in the US history that most of the statesmen happen to be Jews. The USA is a superpower country. Islamabad can ill-afford to run away, on the excuse of China. Politically, we are subordinate to the USA. The thaw in relation will greatly help us to attain some strategic interests. Secondly, Islamabad has a lot to gain from this diplomatic relation for its economic needs. Isreal is a tech giant, excelling in cybersecurity and Agricultural fields. One can estimate, how its efficiency in cybersecurity can endanger our digital financing in the future, thus harming our economy. Moreover, its tech-based agricultural methods such as drip and sprinkler can assuage our water woes. Thirdly, the rapprochement can mitigate Indian threat, considering Tel Aviv's bonhomie with New Delhi in the recent past. India is very much interested in buying its state-of-the-art defense equipments. Pakistan has the ability to change this equation by throwing diplomatic overtures to Israel. Moreover, the lingering worry that Isreal will come to aid of India in case the war between Pakistan and India is waged will also be nipped in the bud. Lastly but most importantly, under such a scenario Pakistan will earn a bargaining position vis-a-vis the Palestine issue. Being a sole Islamic Nuclear State, Pakistan will have much to bring to the negotiating table. No country has more advocated the Palestinian issue than ours. Through the formation of diplomatic channels, Pakistan can become the voice of the poor Palestinians. Sitting idle and protesting on the streets will never do miracles. It is time to take pragmatic steps.
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| - burning Israeli Flag |
Pakistan can no longer sacrifice its national interests on the behest of other nations. Most importantly, almost all Muslim countries have built more or less ties with Isreal, excluding the few including Pakistan, Malaysia, and so on. As for Saudi Arabia, it's silence over a number of issues and harsh words used by Muhammad Bin Salman for PLO's leadership, clearly testifies the intention of the Saudi Kingdom. The kingdom's actions allude that it has tacitly approved the burial of two-state solution and the Trump's "the deal of century". Oman is the latest country to fall into this clandestine orbit of Israeli influence. This major shift tells us that Isreal is no more a common threat to the Muslim community but Iran and its Shia ideology. Moreover, the formation of the Islamic Military Force gives credence to this claim.
The political landscape of the Middle East is evolving fast with new alliances, some overt and covert ones. Pakistan's rigid stance in this domain is good for nothing. In fact, it is harming our national interests. Sadly, we are still dwelling in the romantic illusion of Muslim brotherhood, which has continually been disenchanting us; but we never paid heed. For example, the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), on which our leaders pinned many hopes regarding the Kashmir dispute, has proven itself defunct. In the words of ex-Chairman Senate, Raza Rabbani, "the bubble of an Islamic ummah had burst". Therefore, it is a crying need of time to comprehend global politics through the lens of Realpolitik, as it is the best way forward. Taken together, Pakistan must revisit its policy towards this issue, and take into account the larger national interests.
Good ideas, well articulated
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