Currently, the world is facing a serious moral crisis, and universal values carry hardly any weightage. Leaders of several countries are violating these values instead of strictly adhering to them, and it has become the norm.
Recently, President Donald Trump publicly advised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do what he wanted in Gaza and against Hamas. The implication of giving the Israeli prime minister a free reign to kill, murder or starve the Palestinians and America’s support will continue further emboldens him to commit atrocities.
It is unfortunate, but not surprising, that President Trump made such a callous statement against Hamas and other groups opposing Israel’s occupation and its blatant discriminatory policies. This reaffirms that President Trump has no hesitation in expressing his dislike for Muslims so openly, despite the fact that there are broad ranging consequences of this narrow, stigmatised policy towards Muslims that constitute the third largest religion in the world.
Foremost, the highly discriminatory policy undermines the foundational basis of the US constitution that rests on the principles of federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances and equal treatment of citizens irrespective of colour, creed or religion.
Moreover, it is to be seen if the Congress and the Supreme Court will exercise their authority to prevent the President from becoming too powerful. There are already moves in this direction but it is not clear if these will pick up momentum.
It is not surprising that there is hardly any reaction by the Muslim leadership on the harsh comments being made by President Trump. It is probably the fear of retaliation and reservations about Hamas’s policies that could stir and promote opposition to their regime and damage their interests. Meanwhile the people of Gaza continue to experience worst suffering with acute shortage of food and water and mass exodus during the holy month of Ramazan.
It was however encouraging that there were protests and demonstrations in certain parts of the world on the state of Muslims in Gaza. In the US, despite the looming threat of deportation, many participated in demonstrations. In several universities, especially Columbia University in the City of New York, many students were arrested who were protesting against the treatment meted out to Hamas and the Palestinians in general.
Despite the protests and opposition of Muslims it is unlikely that there will be any change in President Trump’s policies towards Muslims. In the recent presidential election, he won with a significant margin implying that the majority of Americans endorse his policies. A travel ban on several countries, including many with significant Muslim populations, means being placed under restrictive categories and subjected to intensive background checks.
Even if in future, some of the US policies are reversed or modified, a lingering prejudice and discrimination is likely to prevail. The plight and treatment of Muslims in European countries is not very different either with many being deported back due to lack of job opportunities.
A positive impact of this could be that relatively more talent will be available here in the country, promoting development and economy provided the talent is prudently utilised. It is also expected that there could be an increase in the number of migrations to other destinations like the Middle East or even New Zealand and Australia.
Meanwhile, it is critical that the national leadership seriously focuses on human and infrastructural development to increase its inherent potential. The private sector needs to be facilitated and encouraged to play a more significant role in boosting the national economy. Moreover, it should ensure that the talent and experience of the Pakistani citizens returning to the country are properly utilised to fasten the pace of development and placing it on a more solid foundation.
It is equally critical that a high priority is accorded to addressing the menace of corruption that seems to have been deeply rooted and become a norm. One of the major reasons for this callousness, as many suspect, is that the leadership and the civil and military bureaucracy are disinterested in seriously eradicating it due to vested interests. Another factor that is overlooked is that unless democratic values are well ingrained, public pressure will not assert itself.
Terrorism is another factor that spreads fear and anarchy, distracting government from focusing on the economy and other national and international issues. Apart from the military taking a leading role in countering it, the civilian leadership has a major responsibility in addressing the factors facilitating its spread. How is it that a significant percentage of population has fallen prey to indoctrination and is risking their lives to promote a dubious cause.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), finding a safe sanctuary in Afghanistan, continues to pose a major threat to the border areas of Khyber-Paktunkhwa and Balochistan, whilst the Afghan government looks the other way undermining its long-term national interests and relations with Pakistan.
India’s support to TTP and anti-Pakistan elements in Afghanistan is supposed to be a counter to Pakistan’s support to the Kashmiri Mujahedeen for the just cause of liberating the Kashmiris from Indian yoke. Although it is clearly in the long-term interest of the region to have a cooperative relationship among these two neighbours that promotes trade, commerce and tourism. Increased tensions between India and Pakistan since the middle of 2014 reinforce the urgency for normalising relations but the prospects for that seem remote in the light of India’s intransience; and Pakistan cannot achieve this alone.
Pakistan’s relations with Iran are affected due to its adverse relations with the US, and also with certain Middle Eastern countries. Pakistan’s relations with China are central to its foreign policy goals and strategic interests. Pakistan needs to further facilitate its economic and security cooperation with China and benefit from drawing lessons from its remarkable progress in significantly improving the economy and quality of life of its people.
Relations with Saudi Arabia remain very close and are of a strategic nature. These need to be further expanded in the economic, political and strategic fields for the benefit of both countries.
Above all the government urgently needs to invest in efforts at reforming Pakistan and improving the lives of its people.
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