ICEP

DAWN EDITORIALS & OPINIONS

ANALYSIS
Dated: 23 August 2020

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 CONTENTS TABLE
Page Title Section/Category
04 The politics of deals National Affairs
07 FM’s China visit Pak-China
09 Remembering Hasil Bizenjo Vetern Politician
18 Changes in the Muslim world Middle East Politics
21 Pakistan-Suadi weakening relationship I.R
25 What a Biden presidency would mean for the USA
Middle East
28 Intra-Afghan dialogue Global Issue

COLOURS Used:

Red for Difficult Vocab

Green for Important Figures and contents

Others colours used where necessary

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 DAWN+ EDITORIALS SECTION

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The politics of deals | Dawn Editorial

THE PTI government has announced it will exhaust all legal options to bring back former
prime minister Nawaz Sharif from London.

Detailed Analysis:

Addressing the media, Information Minister Shibli Faraz said the PML-N leader will not
be allowed to evade the law on the pretext of a “fudged” medical report. He said Nawaz
Sharif was doing politics from London and the government would ask NAB to contact the
Foreign Office in order to ensure his return to Pakistan. Other cabinet ministers have also
issued similar statements indicating that Prime Minister Imran Khan has prioritised this
issue.

Reviewing Nawaz Sharif travel to London: Step by Step

Step1: The court had allowed Mr Sharif to travel abroad for treatment after relevant
government officials had authenticated his medical reports. Since he was being treated in a
government hospital by a panel of doctors, the Punjab government was directly involved in
all procedures and was privy to relevant information.

Step2: These medical reports indicated that Mr Sharif’s treatment needed to be continued
abroad and doctors had signed off on this recommendation.

Step3: The reports were submitted in court and Shahbaz Sharif had guaranteed that his
elder brother would return to Pakistan after the completion of his treatment.

Step4: The federal government had accordingly given him permission to travel to London.
Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid has said Mr Sharif went abroad after a deal with the
establishment and Prime Minister Imran Khan was not aware of it.

Current Scenario of Nawaz Sharif:______The former prime minister has kept a relatively
low profile except for some photographs showing him stepping out for coffee, etc. However,
he is reported to be giving directions to his party and also conversing with allies including
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. PML-N leaders maintain his treatment is ongoing
and he will return when the doctors advise him to do so.

Critical Analysis:

The government’s belated concern over his travel abroad makes little sense when its own
officials verified Mr Sharif’s medical reports and gave him permission to fly out. If the
government now feels there was something wrong with the reports, it may want to first haul
up those officials from within its own ranks — including the Punjab health minister — who
confirmed their veracity. Only then would it make sense for the government to cry foul.
Otherwise, the logic of its protestations at this stage wears fairly thin. There is, however, a
larger issue at stake and it pertains to the culture of political deals that often overrides the
dictates of law. This is not the first time that Nawaz Sharif has gone abroad as a result of
some reported understanding. Such deals involve two parties and if blame has to
apportioned it will need to be shared. Pakistan’s politics require greater transparency in
order to inject a dose of credibility in decisions taken at the highest level. Clandestine
understandings undercut the trust of the people in the workings of the government.

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 Vocabulary Description

exhaust (verb): use up (resources or reserves) completely: the country has

exhausted its treasury reserves.

evade (adj) : escape or avoid, especially by guile or trickery: friends helped him to
evade capture for a time | he tried to kiss her, but she evaded him.

pretext (noun/phrase): giving the specified reason as one's justification: he

postponed the program on the pretext of his severe illness..

fudged (verb) : present or deal with (something) in a vague, non-committal, or

inadequate way, especially so as to conceal the truth or mislead: the minister tried to
fudge the issue by saying he did not want to specify periods..

privy (adj): ( privy to ) sharing in the knowledge of (something secret or private):

he was no longer privy to her innermost thoughts.

signed off (phrase) : conclude a letter, broadcast, or other message."he signed off
with a few words of advice"

belated (adj): coming or happening later than should have been the case: a belated
apology..

haul up (phrase) : see someone in order to be punished or to answer questions about

their behaviour: He was hauled up in court/in front of a judge.

to cry foul (idiom) : to say that something that has happened is unfair or illegal:

The opposition parties have cried foul at the president's act, seeing it as a violation
of democracy. "

Clandestine (adj) : kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit: she
deserved better than these clandestine meetings..

undercut (noun) : undermine: the chairman undercut the power of Students.

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 Parts of Speech Analysis

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FM’s China visit | Dawn Editorial
Introduction

FOREIGN MINISTER Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s visit to China was a timely

reaffirmation of Islamabad-Beijing ties. Kashmir was certain to figure prominently in Mr
Qureshi’s talk with his Chinese counterpart, Mr Wang Yi, and it did, along with other
issues such as CPEC.

Matters Discussed in the meeting: Detailed Analysis

▪ Not least important on the agenda was the scheduled visit of President Xi Jinping to
Islamabad next month.

▪ Another highlight of the communiqué released after talks on Friday was the pledge
by the two countries to continue to work together on the development of a vaccine
against the coronavirus.

▪ The timing of this renewal of a joint pledge was significant. The meeting of the long-
time allies came against the backdrop of major international events, including the mid-
June border skirmish between China and India, the most serious incident of its kind in
the last 50 years of a tense relationship. The clash had raised the spectre of diplomats
from various countries entering the scene and playing a power game with cold,
calculated realignment being the ultimate buzzword.

Considering India-US relationship, Pak-China and CPEC:

Ever since, the experts have indulged in ‘creating’ likely and unlikely alliances out of actors
who are driven by ‘new realities’. They have flaunted all kinds of scenarios and have
predicted new blocs on the international stage. Newer elements have been introduced but
perhaps the most prominent of the trajectories discussed in the circumstances is the one that
projects India forging even closer ties with the US in the near future. Pakistan has been
quite keen to remind Washington about how important it is that the balance the US
administration aspires to in its South Asian policy — at least in words — must actually be
reflected in how it is seen to deal with the most crucial causes in the region, namely
Afghanistan, CPEC and Kashmir. Islamabad is also following a strategy where it is striving
to strengthen its ties with the dependable Chinese capital as well as exploring new reliable
partners for joint ventures in the international community.

The Pakistan-China relationship is a central pillar on which this policy is based. Be it New
Delhi’s excesses in besieged India-held Kashmir, or the matter of asserting Pakistan’s role
in Afghanistan, or, of course, the CPEC project, it has always been in the common interest
of Beijing and Islamabad to cooperate with each other. Recent international events could, in
fact, have brought the two neighbours even closer.

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 Vocabulary Description

reaffirmation (noun): reconfirmation, recertification, renewed affirmation

communiqué (French noun): an official announcement or statement, especially one

made to the media.

pledge (verb/noun): formally declare or promise that something is or will be the

done : the Prime Minister pledged that there would be no increase in VAT.

skirmish (noun): A slight fight in war; a light or desultory combat between

detachments from armies, or between detached and small bodies of troops.

realignment (noun): organizing into rows again, rearrangement into lines

buzzword (noun): a technical word or phrase that has become fashionable, typically
as a slogan. or neologism that has become stylish.

flaunted (verb): display (something) ostentatiously, especially in order to provoke

envy or admiration or to show defiance: newly rich consumers eager to flaunt their
prosperity.

forging (verb): create (a relationship or new conditions): the two women forged a
close bond | the country is forging a bright new future.

besieged (verb): surround (a place) with armed forces in order to capture it or force
its surrender; lay siege to: the Indian forces marched north to besiege Kashmir.

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Remembering Hasil Bizenjo | Daily times Editorial
Introduction:

Revered (respected), soft-spoken and veteran Baloch nationalist leader Senator Mir Hasil
Khan Bizenjo is no more with us.

Detailed Analysis:

He died in a Karachi hospital while undergoing treatment. The death of the National Party
leader is a great loss to objective politics and Balochistan has lost one of its finest
politicians. He was among the few voices left in Balochistan who would talk sane to both
Baloch nationalists as well the centric forces in Islamabad. What made him outstanding
were his genuine concerns for the people of his province and his progressive and rule-based
politics for the people. Mainstream leadership of the country, including PPP chairperson
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardar, has mourned his death. Bilawal called his death as “a great loss to
the country, its democratic forces and Balochistan. Bizenjo remained in the forefront in the
struggle for supremacy of the Constitution and strengthening of democracy. He was a strong
voice against injustices to Balochistan”. Always believing in talks to solve the issues, the
late Bizenjo stood against militancy and would call for the solution of problems through
talks and ballot. He never minced(filtered, cut) any words while holding pat (firm stand)
on governments of neglecting Balochistan and adopting a negative approach towards
Baloch.

Critical Analysis of Hasil Bizenjo's personality:

He was often criticized for being a consistent ally of the PML-N at the Centre as well as in
Balochistan. One may question his choice of forging alliance with other parties, he,
however, set an example of keeping a political accord intact when his party struck a
coalition deal with the PML-N after the 2013 polls. His party left the power corridor after
completing the first half term of the assembly tenure and handed over the government to the
PML-N. His colleagues in the Senate, such as PPP Senator Mian Raza Rabbani,
remembered him as a constitutionalist and great savior of the federation. It is the irony of
our time that we are losing the symbol of progressive politics from Balochistan and other
parts of the country. Punjab has already jettisoned (thrown away) such politicians. The life
of the late Bizenjo is a guiding light for the politicians of our time that politics can be done
without being influenced by money, religion and authority. His legacy demands that words
are very sacred in politics and they should be honoured. He leaves behind a lifelong political
career which has no stain of corruption. May he rest in peace and may Allah give his
family the power to bear such an irreparable loss.

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 Important Data + Opinionated points

THE PTI government has announced it will exhaust all legal options to bring back former
prime minister Nawaz Sharif from London.

o Pakistan and China call themselves “all-weather allies” and “iron brothers”.

o China has supported Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, raising it at the United Nations
Security Council thrice, over the last year.

o China has also emerged as Pakistan’s biggest benefactor through its funding of the
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Originally valued at USD 46 billion, China’s commitment to Pakistan now stands at

USD 62 billion..

Iran should be wary of this real, practical avenue aimed squarely at curbing its activities
without firing a single shot. Biden is keen on drawing Tehran back to a revived, possibly
updated Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that will require playing diplomatic hardball.
After all, it is highly unlikely his 2,000 foreign policy advisers will urge a U-turn back to
the 2015 agreement. What is needed now is something more iron clad, expanded to
include ending Tehran’s interventionism in Yemen, Syria and Iraq as a prerequisite for its
return to the global economy. Iran will also have its own demands, banking on Russia or
China’s veto powers as leverage, but refusal to engage will be far more costly..

The sponsors the intra-afghan dialogue of the deliberative process would basically have to:

1) persuade all stakeholders that it is an authentic political platform where they can engage
with each other and discuss the multifarious issues plaguing their country;

2) assure all participants that they will be treated on a par with other stakeholders and their
genuine grievances will be addressed with utmost sincerity; and,

3) convince all groups that the decisions arrived at during the talks shall be implemented
faithfully and the country will not be allowed to again slip into the all too familiar blood-
soaked anarchy. Given the legendary capriciousness of the Afghan political intelligentsia and
the diametrically opposed viewpoints of different stakeholders, this appears to be a tall order.

o Pakistan’s efforts to please Turkey and Malaysia have also angered Saudi Arabia
because Turkey has been trying to position itself as the new leader of the Muslim world,
challenging Saudi Arabia’s long-held position.

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 ENGLISH WRITING PRACTICE

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 Important Dawn + Vocabulary

437). Alienated
Meaning: estrange, turn away, isolate, detach, distance
Definition: make (someone) feel isolated or estranged.
Usage: An urban environment which would alienate its Inhabitants

438). Convalesce
Meaning: recuperate, get better, recover, get well
Definition: recover one's health and strength over a period of time after an illness or medical
treatment.
Usage: He spent eight months convalescing after the stroke

439). Besmirch
Meaning: sully, tarnish, blacken, stain, taint, smear, spoil, ruin
Definition: damage (someone's reputation).
Usage: He had besmirched the good name of his family.

440). Disgust
Meaning: revulsion, repugnance, aversion, distaste, loathing
Definition: a feeling of revulsion or strong disapproval aroused by something unpleasant or
offensive.
Usage: The sight filled her with disgust.

441). Discrimination
Meaning: prejudice, bias, bigotry, intolerance, partisanship,
Definition: the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on
the grounds of race, age, or sex.
Usage: Victims of racial discrimination.

442). Consciousness
Meaning: awareness, alertness, sentience, responsiveness, wwakefulness
Definition: the state of being aware of and responsive to one's surroundings.
Usage: She failed to regain consciousness and died two days later

443). Exaggerate
Meaning: overstate, overstress, overvalue, overestimate, magnify
Definition: represent (something) as being larger, better, or worse than it really is.
Usage: She was apt to exaggerate any aches and pains.

444). Debilitate
Meaning: weakening, enervative, tiring, exhausting, devitalizing, draining
Definition: make (someone) very weak and infirm
Usage: He was severely debilitated by a stomach upset

445). Decree
Meaning: order, edict, command, mandate, precept
Definition: an official order that has the force of law.
Usage: The decree guaranteed freedom of assembly

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446). Introspection
Meaning: brooding, heart-searching, self-absorption
Definition: the examination or observation of one's own mental and emotional processes.
Usage: Quiet introspection can be extremely valuable

447). Peculiar
Meaning: strange, unusual, odd, funny, curious, weird
Definition: different to what is normal or expected; strange.
Usage: He gave her some very peculiar looks

448). Denial
Meaning: contradiction, rebuttal, repudiation
Definition: the action of denying something.
Usage: She shook her head in denial
449). Probed
Meaning: examine, feel, prod, poke, check
Definition: explore or examine (something), especially with the hands or an instrument.
Usage: Hands probed his body from top to bottom.

450). Engulf
Meaning: flood, deluge, immerse, swamp, inundate
Definition: (of a natural force) sweep over (something) so as to surround or cover it
completely.
Usage: The cafe was engulfed in flames

451). Gallant
Meaning: brave, courageous, valiant, bold, plucky, daring, fearless
Definition: (of a person or their behaviour) brave; heroic.
Usage: She had made gallant efforts to pull herself together

452). Hoax
Meaning: practical, joke, joke, jest, prank, trick, jape
Definition: a humorous or malicious deception.
Usage: The evidence had been planted as part of an elaborate hoax

453). Haggle
Meaning: barter, bargain, negotiate, quibble, wrangle
Definition: dispute or bargain persistently, especially over the cost of something.
Usage: The two sides are haggling over television rights.

454). Glut
Meaning: appoint, induct, install, invest, anoint, consecrate
Definition: An excessively abundant supply of something
Usage: there is a glut of cars on the market

455). Firmament
Meaning: the sky, heaven, the blue,
Definition: the heavens or sky.
Usage: Thunder shakes the firmament

456). Intrusive
Meaning: intruding, invasive, obtrusive, interrupting, trespassing, unwanted
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Definition: causing disruption or annoyance through being unwelcome or uninvited
Usage: That was an intrusive question

457). Temporize
Meaning: equivocate, stall, delay, prevaricate, hesitate
Definition: avoid making a decision or committing oneself in order to gain time.
Usage: The opportunity was missed because the queen still temporized

458). Lampoon
Meaning: saririze, mock, ridicule, rag, tease
Definition: publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm.
Usage: The actor was lampooned by the press

459). Grapple
Meaning: wrestle, struggle, tussle
Definition: engage in a close fight or struggle without weapons; wrestle.
Usage: passers-by grappled with the man after the knife attack.
460). Dawdle
Meaning: linger, dally, idle, waste time
Definition: waste time; be slow.
Usage: she mustn't dawdle—she had to make the call now.

461). Rampage
Meaning: riot, tear, run amok, storm, charge
Definition: (especially of a large group of people) move through a place in a violent and
uncontrollable manner.
Usage: Several thousand demonstrators rampaged through the city

462). Hostility
Meaning: antagonism, bitterness, malevolence, malice, rancor, venom, anger, hatred
Definition: hostile behaviour; unfriendliness or opposition.
Usage: Their hostility to all outsiders

463). Vacillate
Meaning: dither, teeter, temporize, hesitate, fluctuate,
Definition: waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive.
Usage: I vacillated between teaching and journalism.

464). Ordained
Meaning: appoint, induct, install, invest, anoint, consecrate
Definition: make (someone) a priest or minister; confer holy orders on
Usage: He was ordained a minister before entering Parliament

465). Provision
Meaning: supply, delivery, furnishing, allocation, distribution, presentation
Definition: The action of providing or supplying something for use.
Usage: New contracts for the provision of services

466). Stipulation
Meaning: condition, precondition, provision, prerequisite, specification
Definition: a condition or requirement that is specified or demanded as part of an agreement

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Usage: They donated their collection of prints with the stipulation that they never be
publicly exhibited

467). Mausoleum
Meaning: tomb, sepulcher, crypt, vault, catacomb
Definition: a stately or impressive building housing a tomb or group of tombs
Usage: The cathedral was built in 1517 as a royal mausoleum

468). Entrench
Meaning: establish, settle, lodge, set, root, install, plant, embed, anchor, seat
Definition: establish (an attitude, habit, or belief) so firmly that change is very difficult or
unlikely.
Usage: Ageism is entrenched in our society

469). Deception
Meaning: deceit, duplicity, fraud, guile, pretence, artifice
Definition: the action of deceiving someone.
Usage: Obtaining property by deception.

470). Astounding
Meaning: amazing, astonishing, shocking, surprising, stunning
Definition: surprisingly impressive or notable
Usage: The summit offers astounding views.

471). Trepidation
Meaning: fear, apprehension, dread, agitation, dismay , alarm
Definition: a feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen.
Usage: The men set off in fear and trepidation

472). Certainty
Meaning: Confidence, certitude, fact, truth, validity
Definition: firm conviction that something is the case.
Usage: She knew with absolute certainty that they were dead

473). Scandalising
Meaning: shock, appal, outrage, revolt, repel, sicken
Definition: shock or horrify (someone) by a real or imagined violation of propriety or
morality.
Usage: Their lack of manners scandalized their hosts.

474). Stringent
Meaning: Strict, firm, rigid, severe, harsh, tight, exacting, demanding, stiff
Definition: (of regulations, requirements, or conditions) strict, precise, and exacting
Usage: stringent guidelines on air pollution

475). Strained
Meaning: austere, abstinent, Spartan, monastic, simple
Definition: characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of
indulgence, typically for religious reasons
Usage: an ascetic life of prayer, fasting, and manual labour
476). Entrench
Meaning: establish, settle, ensconce, lodge, set, root, install, plant
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Definition: establish (an attitude, habit, or belief) so firmly that change is very difficult or
unlikely
Usage: Ageism is entrenched in our society

477). Impair
Meaning: damage, harm, diminish, reduce, weaken, lessen, blunt, impede, disable
Definition: weaken or damage (something, especially a faculty or function)
Usage: a noisy job could permanently impair their hearing

478). Astounding
Meaning: amazing, astonishing, shocking, surprising, striking
Definition: surprisingly impressive or notable.
Usage: The summit offers astounding views

479). Contemplate
Meaning: look at, view, regard, examine, inspect, observe, survey, study
Definition: look thoughtfully for a long time at.
Usage: He contemplated his image in the mirrors.

480). Stupefy
Meaning: stun, daze, knock out, benumb, numb
Definition: make (someone) unable to think or feel properly
Usage: The offence of administering drugs to a woman with intent to stupefy her.

481). Erratic
Meaning: unpredictable, variable, inconstant, uncertain, unstable,
Definition: not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable.
Usage: Her breathing was erratic

482). Prominent
Meaning: important, well known, leading, eminent, pre-eminent, noted, public, foremost,
famed, big, top, great, chief, main
Definition: important; famous.
Usage: She was a prominent member of the city council

483). Instincts
Meaning: inclination, drive, compulsion, need
Definition: a natural or intuitive way of acting or thinking.
Usage: They retain their old authoritarian instincts.

484). Prerequisites
Meaning: precondition, condition, essential, requirement, imperative, basic
Definition: a thing that is required as a prior condition for something else to happen or exist
Usage: sponsorship is not a prerequisite for any of our courses

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 DAWN+ OPINIONS SECTION

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Changes in the Muslim world | Dawn Opinion

Muhammad Amir Rana

The writer is a security analyst.

MOST Muslim-majority nations are enduring yet another phase of the

‘politics of ummah’. However, heedful of their domestic challenges, they are
also striving to readjust their geopolitical priorities in accordance with their
own economic and political realities. The concept ofummah has always
remained central to the Muslim world, mainly as a religious ethos of unity.
At the same time, it has been undergoing a process of deconstruction, where
the states as well as non-state actors have been shaping its new contours(fit
into specific shape).

Thesis statement

Political Crisis in the Muslim World:

Undercurrent: an underlying
feeling or influence, especially
Recent developments in the Middle East, especially the agreement
one that is contrary to the
between Israel and the UAE for normalisation of bilateral prevailing atmosphere and is
relations, and the reported tensions between Saudi Arabia and not expressed openly: racial
Pakistan, are merely the undercurrents of the brewing political undercurrents.
crisis in the Muslim world. Apparently, it seems the Gulf states,
especially Saudi Arabia, have already made some hard decisions Brewing: (of an unwelcome
event or situation) begin to
linked to their geostrategic realignment which could entail their develop: there was more
desertion of the custodianship of the Muslim world or ummah. trouble brewing as the miners
Many would argue that fast-changing geopolitical realities, went on strike | a storm was
growing economic upheavals, increasing sociopolitical disquiet, brewing.
and mounting grievances of the youth in these countries are
forcing the Gulf leaders to transform their geostrategic and
political approaches.

The Concept of Ummah and Gulf countries:

Still, it is hard to presume that Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies have lost their belief in the
concept and the politics of ummah. Leadership of the ummah confers huge political and
strategic value in regional and global politics, which will make it hard for these countries to
withdraw their claim to it. Rather, they are worried on account of the other contenders to
leadership, mainly an alternative bloc led by Turkey, Iran, Qatar and to some extent
Malaysia.

However, religious institutions and clergy have nurtured an altogether different worldview
among ordinary Muslims in many parts of the Muslim world, which, though it may not be

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compatible with the narratives promoted by their respective states, usually resonates with the
sentiments of non-state actors of violent and non-violent shades.

For the ordinary Muslim, visualising politics separately from religion is not
an easy task.

Blending the Concept of Ummah: Critical Analysis

The ‘ummah’ is a religious concept, used to describe the worldwide community of Muslims.
The pan-Islamist and brotherhood Pan-Islamism (Ideology)
movements had constructed a political
delusion around the concept, and the Muslim Pan-Islamism is a political movement
world (states and societies) have been advocating the unity of Muslims under one
fantasising about the concept for decades. Islamic state – often a Caliphate - or an
international organization with Islamic
They have tried to build a political community principles. As a form of religious nationalism,
of Muslims: the Organisation of Islamic Pan-Islamism differentiates itself from other
Cooperation (OIC) is one such manifestation. pan-nationalistic ideologies, for example, Pan-
The Gulf states have effectively Arabism, by excluding culture and ethnicity
manoeuvred(carefully manipulated) the as primary factors towards unification.
notion: they blended it with Arab nationalism
during the socioeconomic transition period
from the 1960s to the last decade. Many Gulf states led by Saudi Arabia narrowed the scope
of the ummah to Wahabi Islam and made a huge investment in exporting it across the
Muslim world and Muslim diaspora communities, and extracted political support for their
regimes.

The Saudis are not going to abandon the idea of leading the ummah because that would
mean losing enormous strategic value in their international relations. While the ‘influence’
they wield by being leaders of the ummah makes them an important global player, their
strong alliance with the US makes them ‘potent’ among Muslim countries. To further
consolidate this two-pronged strength, Saudi Arabia formed an alliance of 40 Muslim
countries called the Islamic Military Counterterrorism Coalition. Many would argue the
Saudis’ real aim in doing so was to raise troops for Yemen and counter Iran in the region. Of
course, Saudi Arabia was not doing this as a religious service or to serve the ummah’s
collective interests, yet many small Muslim countries joined the Saudi-led ‘Muslim Nato’
for their own economic interests. However, the alliance was bound to fail because it had a
very narrow focus and revolved around the interests of a particular state.

For the ordinary Muslim, visualising politics separately from religion is not an easy task: the
pan-Islamist and Brotherhood movements have changed the worldview of many Muslim
societies. By targeting the education sector, they have transformed Muslim societies’
political views to the extent that it will take a long time to rediscover the lost religious value
of the concept of ummah.

The Role of Non state Actors:

The Palestinian issue has remained on top of the OIC agenda. While the Gulf states have
maintained solidarity with the Palestinians, non-state actors have developed their narratives
around the Palestinian-Israel issue and their allegedly corrupt regimes who they believe are
not taking the issue seriously. Interestingly, the public has largely consumed the narrative of
‘corrupt regimes’ that is promoted by non-state actors and like-minded religious leaders, but
the educated classes still refuse to borrow the idea of an alternative state system which
undermines democracy and associated freedoms. Non-state actors also failed to sell their
models of alternative state systems after the Arab Spring uprisings. But they still remain
relevant in political and religious discourses of their societies.
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Non-state actors could exploit the emerging political developments to their advantage. The
major violent groups Al Qaeda and Islamic State have not reacted to the UAE-Israel deal
yet. Both groups have been significantly weakened and might not be able to launch big
attacks immediately, but they could use the situation in support of their argument against the
Muslim regimes and Israel.

Militant Groups and their obejectives:

Destruction of Israel and opposing ‘apostate’ regimes in the Muslim world remains at the
top of Al Qaeda’s agenda. IS and Al Qaeda differ on the strategic and tactical level but both
share certain political objectives. They are desperately trying to make a comeback but their
political compulsions have made them weak. For instance, Al Qaeda in Afghanistan is
hamstrung because it is an ally of the Afghan Taliban who have successfully made a deal
with the US and entered into negotiations with the Afghan government and civil society.
This is the scenario unless Al Qaeda breaks ties with the Taliban.

Conclusion:

However, other non-violent religious groups and leaders have become vocal critics of the
recent development in the Middle East. This is dangerous turf for Muslim countries like
Pakistan with has diverse sectarian landscapes. The Saudi and Iranian blocs have made huge
investments in their respective religious communities and the time has come to reap the
dividends. Pro-Saudi religious leaders are faced with a major dilemma over how to stand
firm on their anti-Semitism while supporting their Arab mentors.

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Pakistan-Suadi weakening relationship | The Indian
Express
Introduction:

Recently, a delegation led by Pakistan Army Chief visited Saudi Arabia but were
denied a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).

• It highlights the rift between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in general

and specifically over the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
Key Points

▪ Saudi’s Changing Perspective on India:

o Saudi’s increasing friendly and supportive nature towards India has been
a gradual process under Crown Prince MBS because he wants to diversify
Saudi’s heavily oil-dependent economy and sees India as a valuable partner
in the region.
o Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth-largest trade partner (after China, the USA
and Japan) and a major source of energy.

▪ India imports around 18% of its crude oil requirement from Saudi
Arabia which is also a major source of LPG for India.
o With India stopping oil imports from Iran due to the threat of sanctions by
the USA, the importance of Saudi Arabia increases even more.
▪ Increasing China Factor:

o Pakistan and China call themselves “all-weather allies” and “iron brothers”.
o China has supported Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, raising it at the United
Nations Security Council thrice, over the last year.
o China has also emerged as Pakistan’s biggest benefactor through its
funding of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

▪ Originally valued at USD 46 billion, China’s commitment to Pakistan

now stands at USD 62 billion.
o Saudi Arabia has also invested in CPEC projects, to the tune of USD 10
billion but Pakistan now seems more interested in Beijing for both
diplomatic and economic support.

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 o Pakistani leaders’ visits to China play an important role in further
strengthening the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative
Partnership.
▪ Implications for India:

o India has favoured and supported the Arab world and has worked the
diplomatic levers through high-level visits and open opportunities for
investment and business.
o India has been closely noticing the developments between Pakistan and
Saudi Arabia but has not said anything publicly.
o Saudi’s silence on the issues of Jammu and Kashmir and the CAA-
NRC has also emboldened India.
o Closer ties between China and Pakistan are worrying for India, especially
during the ongoing standoff but with Saudi Arabia’s support, India may
have leverage over Pakistan.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Relations
1. History of Cooperation and Support:

o The relationship was most

prominent during the 1971 war
between India and Pakistan when
Saudi Arabia is also reported to
have transferred arms and
equipment to Pakistan.

▪ Saudi held that Indian actions

were “treacherous and contrary to all international covenants and
human values” and found no justification for the Indian aggression
except “India’s desire to dismember Pakistan and tarnish its Islamic
creed”.
o Post-war, Saudi Arabia consistently supported the call for the return of
Pakistan’s prisoners of war and for dropping the Dhaka Trial against them.
It also gave loans to Pakistan enabling it to buy arms worth about USD 1
million by 1977.
o Saudi oil and dollars have kept Pakistan’s economy afloat after sanctions
following the nuclear tests.

▪ Saudi has provided oil on deferred payments to Pakistan whenever it

ran into economic difficulty.
o Saudi’s funding of madrasas has led to their growth and spread which in
turn has given rise to religious extremism.

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 o In 1990, Pakistan sent its ground forces to defend Saudi Arabia
against Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.

2. Emerging Differences:

o Pakistan lobbied with the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) for

criticising the Indian move of revoking Article 370 in Jammu and
Kashmir but statements by Saudi Arabia and the UAE were not harshly
critical of India.

▪ Pakistan has tried to rouse the sentiments among the Islamic countries,
but only Turkey and Malaysia have publicly criticised India.
▪ The alignment over Kashmir at the OIC crystallised since 1990 when
the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir began and since then, it has
regularly issued statements on the issue.
▪ Pakistan has accused Saudi of failing to deliver on the Kashmir
cause and OIC for not playing a leadership role in backing Pakistan
against India.
o In 2015, Pakistan’s Parliament decided not to support the Saudi military
effort to restore an internationally recognised government in Yemen.
o In February 2019 after the Pulwama terror attack, Saudi Arabia and the
UAE, along with the USA, put in efforts on the release of the Indian Wing
Commander Abhinandan who was captured by Pakistan.
o Saudi Arabia angered by Pakistan’s accusations demanded the return of the
USD 3 billion loan and refused to sell oil on deferred payment. Pakistan
immediately returned USD 1 billion, displaying the rift.

▪ In November 2018, Saudi announced a USD 6.2 billion loan package

for Pakistan which included USD 3 billion in loans and an oil credit
facility amounting to USD 3.2 billion.
▪ Pakistan is unable to pay the next tranche which seems difficult given
the current economic situation and to make things worse, Saudi has
refused to take part in Pakistan’s patch-up exercise.
o Pakistan’s efforts to please Turkey and Malaysia have also angered Saudi
Arabia because Turkey has been trying to position itself as the new leader
of the Muslim world, challenging Saudi Arabia’s long-held position.
Way Forward

o Saudi Arabia does not want conflict and regional instability and it has made it
clear that it values economic opportunities, which is why it is not involving in
the Kashmir issue in India or the terrorism issue in Pakistan.

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o For India, it is important that the Pakistan-China and the Pakistan-Saudi axes
are not fused together at the moment and it is not a Saudi-Pakistan-China
triangle. Rest of it and the future of these layered relations depends on how
India leverages the situation.

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What a Biden presidency would mean for the Middle East |
Arab News
Hafed Al-Ghwell

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 Introduction: The Course Correction for US

The first “virtual” convention of the Democratic half of the US political

duopoly was a flashy, star-studded showcase of the party's vision for the
challenging years ahead should Joe Biden win the presidential election in
November. Speakers prescribed a much-needed course correction at home,
given how a poor public health response to the global pandemic went horribly
awry. With millions out of work, school closures, strained healthcare
facilities and intensifying anxieties about the “new normal,” concrete ideas
for dealing with these crises are likely to resonate with the electorate.

Joe Biden:Vision to run the world

For the rest of the world, however, it was the events of the second day that were of more
interest, as speakers and montages played up the former vice president’s foreign affairs
experience, not just as a member of the Obama administration, but as chairman of the Senate
foreign relations committee. Unfortunately, the rules of politics demand only hints about
what a President Biden’s international agenda will look like, instead of concrete policy
goals.

The broad message was that Biden had the experience, competence and gall to navigate a
global stage teetering on the precipice and unclear of what lies at the bottom of the ravine.
What we do know is that the unipolarity of old is giving way to a muddled geopolitical mess
of multilateralism, regionalization and strong-arm interventionism. It is impossible to turn
back to a time when Foggy Bottom and the White House led the world order and it would be
far too risky for America to suddenly vanish altogether.Fortunately, even the seven
paragraphs dedicated to the Middle East in the 2020 Democratic platform make it
abundantly clear that the US will not abandon the region— even if the fuss and
alarmism now appear to say otherwise. Indeed, planned troop reductions in Afghanistan
and Iraq are a little concerning, but with US defense spending rising it is perhaps another
sign of a changing world, where the number of boots on the ground is no longer a credible
gauge of America’s commitment.

America wants to come back towards alliances and soft Power

Both parties are eager to turn a page on large-scale military interventions abroad and getting
bogged down in endless wars, necessitating a return to a Middle East policy model that
centers on allies and partners. Thus, under a Biden administration is likely to eschew violent
conflict, and even the threat of it, in favor of pragmatic, non-ideological diplomacy, which
deters with economic might, soft power and balanced relationships.

The Middle East foreign policy:

Despite the inevitable criticism for not radically departing from establishment foreign policy
(which the Trump administration tried, and failed), the Middle East must prepare for a
“leading from behind” foreign policy on steroids. In other words, a Biden administration
will avoid re-engaging in Iraq and Syria, while urging allies bogged down in Libya and
Yemen to commit to negotiated settlements. In matters that may still require a show of force,
such as deterring Russian encroachment or Tehran’s wayward adventurism, a coalition of
Gulf states, Israel and Egypt will gradually shoulder more of Washington’s military
obligations, with US “advisers” in the shadows. The recent accord between the UAE and

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Israel is almost providential, intensely favorable to a Biden-style multipolar foreign policy
vision.

The UAE-Israel deal:

The treaty is a massive step in Washington’s long game to make Iran, not Israel, the driving
force behind the realignment and unifying of disparate interests in the region. As much as
the Trump administration may seek to tout this development as a major accomplishment, the
treaty is a culmination of a patient strategy to isolate Tehran and cement its pariah status for
events between 1979 and 1981.

US policy theory in the region has been reliant on cordiality between Israel and
Washington’s Arab allies, despite the reality being vastly different. However, with other
Arab states likely to follow Egypt, Jordan and the UAE in normalizing relations with Israel,
Washington is closer to its ideal framework for fostering regional security and stability, and
safeguarding shared interests. Additionally, annexations in the West Bank will probably be
halted indefinitely and deepening ties may require Israel to shelve those plans altogether. It
also saves from the impossible dilemma of expressing solidarity with the plight of the
Palestinians while giving carte blanche to Benjamin Netanyahu.

Iran is being pushed to cornor: there must be way out

Iran should be wary of this real, practical avenue aimed squarely at curbing its activities
without firing a single shot. Biden is keen on drawing Tehran back to a revived, possibly
updated Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that will require playing diplomatic hardball.
After all, it is highly unlikely his 2,000 foreign policy advisers will urge a U-turn back to the
2015 agreement. What is needed now is something more iron clad, expanded to include
ending Tehran’s interventionism in Yemen, Syria and Iraq as a prerequisite for its return to
the global economy. Iran will also have its own demands, banking on Russia or China’s veto
powers as leverage, but refusal to engage will be far more costly.

Russia and Cbina's Role in the region:

Moscow has little in common with Tehran save for the latter being a wrench in
Washington’s designs for the region. Beijing is far more inclined to support stabilizing
mechanisms than risking entanglements that could result in sanctions or costly delays in its
regional Belt and Road Initiative. Russia could be easily convinced to scale back its
ambitions if its plans for warm water Mediterranean ports are not at risk in Syria and Libya.
In addition, should Tehran reject efforts at a negotiated settlement, it risks becoming yet
another geopolitical battleground, rendering its revolutionary claims of sovereignty moot.

Critical Analysis of Joe Biden Foreign Policy and its impact on Middle East:
There are a lot of upsides to prudent multilateralism, both for antagonists and allies; Biden’s
extensive experience and the depth of wisdom in his ranks of policy advisers could be the
lynchpin in shaping a new Middle East. The Trump administration’s isolationism and
penchant for bilateral arrangements certainly has some appeal to those exhausted by regional
entanglements. However, the results speak for themselves, and in November it will be up to
American voters to approve a permanent shift away from the interventions of old and
reactionary isolationism in the Middle East toward “pragmatic diplomacy” centered on
cooperation and shared interests.

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Intra-Afghan dialogue | The Express Tribune
Shariq Jamal Khan

Anatomising(dissecting)the recent history of Afghanistan is not an

uphill(difficult) task. In a crudely Hobbesian sense, it has been nasty and
brutish but not solitary and short. The country has remained an untameable
Leviathan. It needs a break from its wretched past. Coming on the heels of
the much-trumpeted US-Taliban agreement signed in February, an Afghan
grand assembly of elders has approved the release of 400 Taliban prisoners,
thereby paving the way for all Afghan factions to jointly devise a mechanism
that could help them overpower the juggernaut of violence that has
disfigured Afghanistan. This would be done through an intra-Afghan
dialogue involving the Afghan government, the Taliban and various regional
factions.

Thesis Statement

That this dialogue will be long, tedious and complicated cannot be overemphasised. In fact,
the perceived legitimacy of the process is as important as the actual discussions it will
spawn. The sponsors of the deliberative process would basically have to:

1) persuade all stakeholders that it is an authentic political platform where they can engage
with each other and discuss the multifarious issues plaguing their country;

2) assure all participants that they will be treated on a par with other stakeholders and their
genuine grievances will be addressed with utmost sincerity; and,

3) convince all groups that the decisions arrived at during the talks shall be implemented
faithfully and the country will not be allowed to again slip into the all too familiar blood-
soaked anarchy. Given the legendary capriciousness of the Afghan political intelligentsia
and the diametrically opposed viewpoints of different stakeholders, this appears to be a tall
order.

Four Key Issues to be addressed:

Be that as it may, the parleys( negotiation) would primarily focus on four key issues.

One, what kind of system of governance should be put in place in Afghanistan? Should it be
a highly centralised government like the one President Ghani heads right now or should a
well-woven mosaic of decentralisation of power be crafted? What should be the quantum of
autonomy granted to the subunits? Should it be a unitary system of government where
political power is centralised or a federal system, whereby power is divided between the
centre and different governmental subunits in accordance with a constitutional scheme?

In Afghanistan’s context this is a delicate issue. Whilst smaller ethnic groups like the Tajiks
and Uzbeks will push for more regional autonomy, larger ethnic groups may resist that. In a
country where ethno-cultural, socio-economic and urban-rural segregation is worse than the
bad old American South, the preservation of national unity without stripping the different
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subunits of their right to self-govern would be nearly impossible. This would not only
require formal constitutional tools that could guarantee a fair system of power sharing but
also the invention of potent institutional apparatuses that could tackle political crises that
might occur from time to time.

Two, the role of ideology within the political dispensation will be of immense importance.
The Taliban are still adamant that Afghanistan should be a theocratic Emirate governed by
the Sharia law. The matter is exceedingly sensitive because it pertains to religious beliefs
and sacred conventions. It defines politics in ideological terms and describes ideology via
political idioms.

Three, the protection of the rights of marginalised sections of society like women, children
and minorities may also take centre stage. Enforceable constitutional and legal instruments
should be available in this regard. Mainstreaming gender equality in a highly gender-
sensitive society would be akin to resorting to dangerous social engineering.

Four, the dialogue may also focus on the elimination of non-state actors like ISIS fighters
who can derail the process of Afghanistan’s reconstruction. ISIS thugs would never allow
the rise of a united and prosperous Afghanistan as this would deprive them of their most
precious sanctuary. Their ability to sabotage the peace process should not be underestimated.

Conclusion:

The intra-Afghan dialogue must succeed. If it fails, poverty, violence, social upheaval and
political instability will quickly turn the country into a living hell.

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