Did Imran miss the opportunity to lead the Muslim world?
It is clear from the Kuala Lumpur Summit held in Malaysia that the differences in the ‘Muslim World’ are very deep.
The differences of the Islamic world came to the surface about this summit. Pakistan’s wavering attitude at the Kuala Lumpur summit also made it clear that it cannot go beyond its purview. READ MORE
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was scheduled to travel to Malaysia on 19–20 December to attend the summit but he had to cancel the tour after visiting Saudi just two days before that.
Saudi Arabia was not happy with this because Malaysia was trying to challenge the Saudi-led Organization of Islamic Cooperation or OIC, by creating a new platform.
The summit was mired in controversy when Malaysia refused to invite Saudi Arabia and its allies. Iran, Turkey, Qatar and Pakistan were the primary invitees. Apart from this, 400 Muslim scholars from all over the world were also called.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad was discussing with Pakistan and Turkey that the challenges of the Islamic world should be discussed in this summit. Imran Khan not only supported this summit but he also agreed to come to it. READ MORE
It is common thinking among the policymakers of Pakistan that the Saudi-led OIC did not support India at all against Kashmir. On the other hand, Iran, Turkey and Malaysia want to directly challenge the OIC that it has failed to understand and give a platform to the Islamic world sentiment.
At the same time, Saudi Arabia wants to maintain political and diplomatic influence in the Muslim world through the OIC. If the efforts of Malaysia, Turkey and Iran are successful, the relevance of OIC will be seriously challenged in the coming months.
Informants of Saudi Arabian affairs say that Imran Khan has shown immaturity and inexperience in the whole matter. He said, “Pakistan today is proving to be a failure on every front.” Saudi Arabia has increased terrible pressure on Imran Khan. Pakistan has a population of more than 20% Shia Muslims and Iran is also a Shia country. Pakistan shares a border with Iran. When Nawaz Sharif and Zardari ruled in Pakistan, an attempt was made to maintain good relations with Iran. But after the arrival of Imran Khan, the Saudi increased the pressure that he cannot do anything without saying that.
“The Kuala Lumpur summit was a direct challenge to the OIC,” says the knowledgeable. Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohammed has been trying to form a new Islamic organization which should stay away from the shadow of Saudi Arabia. OIC has become completely ineffective. This is a means of fulfilling Saudi greed. It is used most against Iran. Mahathir’s effort is to set up a new organization, including Pakistan, on Iran, Turkey and Qatar. However, this could not happen. Imran Khan is unable to handle anything and him has made a big mistake by cancelling the Malaysia tour.
It is being said that Malaysia, Turkey, Iran and Pakistan were also going to discuss Jammu and Kashmir at this summit. After the special status of Malaysia and Turkish Kashmir were abolished, he also spoke openly against India in the General Assembly of the United Nations. It is being said within Pakistan about Saudi that he has his own interests with India, so he is not speaking in Kashmir.
In the Kashmir case, Saudi Arabia and its allies did not support Pakistan. There was also resentment about this in Pakistan and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had to come forward and say that both countries have their own interests, so Kashmir is not in their priority. Saudi expressed concern about Kashmir but the United Arab Emirates called it India’s internal issue.
If India ended the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, then Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia and Iran came out openly. OIC, on the other hand, was moderate about India on Kashmir. In contrast, Saudi brought India to the OIC stage. Questions are now arising about OIC whether it is seriously looking into the problems and challenges of the Muslim world or some countries are using it as a weapon for their own benefit?
In the last few years, the OIC has criticized the role of Houthi rebels in Yemen, saying that it is a threat to regional peace and stability. This comment of the OIC was indirectly against Iran. Iran sympathizes with the Houthi rebels in Yemen. It is being said within Pakistan that Imran Khan’s cancellation of the tour to Malaysia under pressure from Saudi is his strategic mistake.
Saudi did not want to see Pakistan in this summit. In the summit in which the Prime Minister of Pakistan had announced to leave, he could not even send a single minister to him. Experts say that this proved once again that Saudi Arabia has the biggest influence on Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Pakistan’s leading newspaper Dawn also said in its editorial on 18 December that cancelling Imran Khan’s visit to Malaysia was a major strategic lapse. In this editorial, it was said that Imran Khan has shown immaturity on the diplomatic front. The newspaper has written that had Saudi Arabia not objected to the announcement of Imran Khan going to the summit?
It is being said that Pakistan will pay a heavy price for this. After cancelling the Malaysia tour, it is being said that the role of external pressure is still most effective in Pakistan’s foreign policy. With this, it has also been confirmed that Iran, Malaysia and Turkey are with him on Kashmir but it is not decided that Pakistan will also be with him.
In such a situation, questions are arising whether Pakistan can talk freely with Iran and Turkey without Saudi influence? Right now Pakistan was trying to resolve disputes in Saudi and Iran. After the cancellation of the Saudi tour under pressure, questions are also being raised on his ability to mediate.
When Pakistan did not attend the summit, Turkish President Rechep Tayyip Erdogan said that he did not come due to pressure and threat from Saudi. On behalf of the Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia, it was said that the Prime Minister of Pakistan called and expressed regret to PM Mahatir Mohammad.
The Kuala Lumpur Summit has been seen as a challenge to the OIC from the very beginning. Only six countries were invited to this summit. OIC has 49 member countries. No African country was called in it. Only Qatar was called from Arabia. Saudi Arabia considers itself the natural leader of the Islamic world.
Saudi Arabia saved Pakistan from being a defaulter, embroiled in a debt trap. Saudi has often helped Pakistan in difficult times. When Imran Khan came to power after the general elections in 2018, Pakistan was struggling with the economic crisis and Saudi Arabia had helped Pakistan with $ 6 billion.
If Saudi did not help, then Pakistan could be the defaulter. Apart from this, 27 lakh Pakistanis work in Saudi Arabia and the foreign exchange coming from there is a big contribution to the forex of Pakistan.
Originally published at https://www.mubahisa.in.