Will Imran Khan be able to reconcile between Iran and America?
Imran Khan, while addressing a gathering in Islamabad, said that Pakistan will make reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is going to Iran, Saudi Arabia and America. In such a situation, it is important to know whether Pakistan can play the role of peace envoy in the current crisis of the Middle East?
On January 3, Iran’s commander Major General Qasim Sulemani was killed in a US drone strike at Baghdad Airport. Within 24 hours, Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa received a call from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The Pakistani army’s PR wing ISPR has given this information on Twitter.
This phone call from ISPR was called, “Regional situation, in which there was a discussion about the possible impact of the recently increased tension in the Middle East.”
“The Pakistan Army Chief stressed the need for positive and more efforts by all partners to make the situation comfortable for peace and stability.”
“The army chief stressed the need to maintain focus on the success of the Afghan the peace process.”
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, while referring to this on Twitter, wrote that he talked to Pakistan Army Chief General Bajwa.
He also wrote, “Iran’s activities are leading to instability in the region. Our resolve to protect American interests, citizens, facilities and partners will not waver.”
Apparently, Pompeo’s tweet felt as if there was a kind of assurance that the partners would not leave each other. Some of its analysts have also concluded that Pakistan will stand with America in this struggle.
Well, this conversation is important in many ways. Usually, it is rarely seen that such phone calls come to the army chief of Pakistan. The question is also why the Pakistan Army Chief was called, why not the Prime Minister of Pakistan?
A few hours later, another tweet also started making headlines in Pakistan. This time this tweet was done from the official account of the US government’s Department of South and Central Asian Affairs and the tweet was quoted by the top deputy bureaucrat of the US, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Alice Wells.
In this tweet, it said that for Pakistan, America is resuming the international military education and training program. According to some analysts, in view of the recent conflict between Iran and America, it has been decided to start this program. However, the Pakistan Army spokesmen dismiss these assessments.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry also issued some statements, whose language is very low, this shows the sensitivity of the current issue.
Iran is the immediate neighbouring country of Pakistan. Iran was one of the few countries that showed a firm and clear stand in favour of the Kashmiri people after the abolition of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. But on the other hand, Pakistan has long had a partnership with the US and its partner Saudi Arabia in military and economic matters.
Due to the bad economy, Pakistan is also dependent on them in away. For these reasons, Islamabad was never able to maintain a strong stand against American action in Iraq.
Therefore, the statement of Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry cannot be anything other than to look at the current situation with serious concern and appeal to the concerned partners to show restraint.
Looking at the strategic affairs of Pakistan Middle East, Gulf, Turkey and Iran, he says that both Tehran’s policymakers and the general public are disappointed about Pakistan’s response.
“They kept asking constantly why Pakistan has not openly condemned the killing of Sulemani? They could not understand the reasons why Pakistan cannot be angry with Saudi Arabia and America.”
Despite all this, Pakistan is feeling that it may have a role in this dispute. According to former Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, during Imran Khan’s visit to the US, it was believed that there should be some effort from Pakistan to bring Iran and America closer. Therefore a background also exists.
Salman Bashir says, “General Bajwa’s calls from foreign and defence ministers and our foreign minister meeting Iranian diplomats indicate that something is happening, trying to reduce the tension behind the scenes Has been and Pakistan is also included in that. “
However, Salman Bashir himself also believes that the situation is very challenging. He said, “It is very challenging because the situation is very complicated. Pakistan has made it clear that it will not be a part of the conflict, we will be able to help both Iran and America, it has made the way easier.”
Addressing a huge rally in Islamabad on Thursday, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said that he would not allow the use of his country’s land for attacks against any country.
He said in his address, “Pakistan will not join any other war, instead it will act as a peacekeeper between two opponents. We will try to reconcile in Saudi Arabia and Iran.”
A professor of International Relations at Qayede Azam University in Islamabad believes that Pakistan has to choose this option under compulsion.
He explains, “The difficulty is that the neighbouring country adjoining Pakistan is Irani. We cannot bear the burden of military tension between the US and Iran. Like America, we also have a lot at stake in the Afghan peace process.”
According to experts in the matter, “At this time, Pakistan can try not to let the situation deteriorate. A situation where withdrawal is not possible so that a full military conflict does not arise.”
But the question is, does Pakistan have as much influence and influence as it needs to become a peacemaker?
According to Pakistani Patkar Talat Hussain, Pakistan can do this. He explains, “Mike Pompeo and US Defense Minister Mark T. Ispar are in touch with the head of the Pakistan Army. Why did they not contact India? Because they are Pakistan’s geographical strategic importance as well as Pakistan’s status in the Muslim world But, the difficulty is that it can be negotiated between the two countries, but when one party puts a condition, the other party will No guarantee on behalf may be able to get. “ Experts believe that it is very challenging to make any significant changes in the current situation.
He says, “In the past, far more powerful countries like France and Europe have tried to reconcile in Iran and America, which did not work. So it will depend to a large extent on how much America and Iran, for reconciliation Are prepared. “
He believes that despite relations with both sides, Pakistan cannot bring Saudi Arabia and Iran or Iran and America closer.
“If tensions escalate, Pakistan will not be able to remain impartial. It will have to be on one side. Despite Iran’s neighbours, there is a high likelihood that it will favour Saudi Arabia and the United States because those two countries are He has economic dependence. “
If this happens, the difficulties will increase for Pakistan too. Pakistan is already bearing the brunt of instability. In such a situation, if Iran starts a military conflict with America then it will have a bad effect on Pakistan.
According to Talat, this situation will be like a nightmare for Pakistan. She says, “US officials phoned Pakistan’s army chief to ask for help and asked Pakistan to refrain from taking sides. But Pakistan has its own influence and is also in a critical position from a geographical and strategic point of view. This is also the US Understands. “
“Pakistan is the only country with nuclear power in the Muslim world. It has good relations with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Middle East countries. It is also a partner of America. But we also have to understand that even after all these specialities, in the end, Pakistan cannot reconcile them unless they want both countries. “
A few months ago, during a United Nations General Assembly meeting, Pakistan’s Imran Khan was approached by the US and Saudi Arabia to mediate with Iran. Only after this, Emraan went to Tehran in October, though nothing concrete came out of it.
Balancing Iran and Saudi Arabia are also very challenging for Pakistan. In the past decades, Pakistan has sent its troops several times to Saudi Arabia. Every time Pakistan has been claiming this, it has been done to get training.
But in 2015, in the parliament of Pakistan, there was a debate on such a request from Saudi Arabia and then it was decided that Pakistan’s army would not be part of the Saudi-led campaign to take action against Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels. was. At that time, it was feared that if Pakistan sends its army there, then there could be increased tension between the sects within the country.
A few months later, Riyadh announced the creation of an anti-extremist military alliance of Sunni-ruled countries, with former Pakistan Army Chief Raheel Sharif as its first commander.
According to some analysts, this alliance was formed so that Saudi Arabia could take its lead over Iran in the Middle East.
Pakistan is a Sunni majority country, as well as a close partner of Saudi Arabia. But 20 per cent of Pakistan’s Shia population, ideologically and religiously, feels attached to Iran. Therefore, if conflict erupts in Iran and Pakistan takes a stand against Iran, then the government is aware that there will not only be instability on the south-western border, but there will also be an atmosphere of instability within the country.
The clarity with which the country is divided on the basis of a sect is also gauged from the previous instances when there were reports of Pakistani army going into Syria and fighting against Islamic State.
But analysts familiar with foreign affairs believe that Pakistan will be successful in balancing. Pakistan has always had cordial relations with Saudi Arabia but it has never been bitter towards Iran.
This is the reason why analysts hope that Pakistan has such an impact that it can bring Iran, America and Saudi Arabia together. But it is said about any conflict in the world that the final decision depends on them, This is the reason why analysts hope that Pakistan has such an impact that it can bring Iran, America and Saudi Arabia together. But it is said about any conflict in the world that the final decision depends on the one between whom the conflict is fought and how serious they are to resolve their disputes.
Originally published at https://www.mubahisa.in.