Muhammad Usman
WHENEVER Imran Khan takes flour of a world forum, he stands out among his contemporaries, particularly belonging to developing countries. These are not his oratory skills, eloquence and intellect which make him distinct. This is his texture untouched by fear which distinguishes him from others. It is fear of losing wealth, power and life which inhibits most of the leaders from developing countries to speak truth. They avoid limelight to play safe. One has to take risk to speak objectively. Imran Khan does it more often than not. Again it was 25th September when he delivered a landmark address at UNGA, encompassing qualitative changes in content. It was concise, comprehensive and forthright talk. It had strength of character and courage of conviction. Being a rarity, such addresses are listened attentively worldwide and taken seriously by concerned quarters for mixed reasons. Imran Khan dwelled upon important aspects, impacting the world however, qualitative changes, which it contained, are focus of this discourse.
He pointed out growing Islamophobia in world as a result of rising religious hatred, increased nationalism and worsening global tension. Its most worrisome growth is in India where it is being proliferated under state apparatus. This is no foretelling. This is an everyday fact. This is being spearheaded by cadres of ruling BJP and RSS under state patronage. The RSS is ideological base of BJP and parent party of Modi. This is akin to Nazi Party of Germany in ideology and approach to achieve its sinister motives. For Nazi Party, Jews were the target. For RSS, it is first Muslims followed by other minorities because its morbid creed is “Hindustan is for Hindus only”. About 200 million Muslims live in India. Population of other minorities is around 50 million. Imran Khan has sounded warning unambiguously. The world should not wait for another holocaust to erupt; bigger than in magnitude and intensity because this time, 250 million are the prey and over 1100 million are the huntsmen. The tragedy could grip whole world. For Indian Muslims, it is a refreshing change that there is a country which is raising its voice against their subjugation by Hindu majority.
Imran Khan also showed mirror to rich/powerful countries on money laundering. They vociferously preach for anti-money laundering laws/measures and hasten to impose penalties on non-conformist countries for considerations other than laid down. FATF is one instrument. These countries condone money laundering when it comes to their countries. This helps their economies and harms developing countries as illicit money flows from developing countries to rich countries/off shore tax havens. Fear of blowback from powerful money launderers is another consideration for inaction. Earlier, Pakistan almost observed silence on money laundering because it was favourite occupation of our ruling elite. The country went on grey list of FATF under their watch. Instead there is a man who is urging UNGA to take lead in efforts to build a global framework to stem illicit financial flows and ensure speedy repatriation of stolen money. Though it is a far cry yet it would leave sober reflection about a country under shackles of FATF.
While eulogising the role of Pakistan in advancing Afghan peace process that first culminated in US Taliban peace agreement and now Taliban and Afghan Govt are negotiating on one table, he unequivocally declared that it was its part of responsibility which we fulfilled befittingly. Now it is job of Afghan leadership. Our hands are off, however, process must be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned and without any interference and outside influence. This implies no more do more in deference to somebody’s wishes. On issue of Palestine, Pakistan stands as firm as before. Pakistan continues to support a two-state solution in line with UNGA and UNSC’s resolutions, within internationally agreed parameters, pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al Sharif as the capital of a united, contiguous and independent Palestine state. This would lay apprehensions of some kind at rest, emanating from rapprochement between some Arab countries and Israel. This manifests that Pakistan would follow its own path even if Arab states choose divergent path.
Earlier it was moral and diplomatic support which Pakistan pledged for freedom struggle of Kashmiri people. Now as announced by Imran Khan during his address, it stands as government and people of Pakistan are committed to standing by and supporting their Kashmiri brethren in their legitimate struggle for their right of self-determination. It embodies a qualitative change within. Now it is unrestrained, paving the way for all kinds of support. There is nothing unusual about it. Many countries have done it in support of a just cause and freedom struggle of Kashmiris is a just cause. This change has been prompted by no other thing but intransigence of India – not to see reason which only lies for India in a plebiscite as envisaged in UNSC resolutions for settlement of Kashmir dispute. Instead, it chose path of more brutality after revoking Articles 370 and 35-A of its own Constitution allowing Kashmir a special status. In tandem with excessive use of force to silence Kashmiris, India has also embarked upon on an ambitious plan to change demographic structure of occupied territory by grant of 16 lakhs domiciles to non-Kashmiris. The ulterior move is aimed at obliterating distinct Kashmir identity to affect outcome of plebiscite. This is a daydreaming in sheer lunacy. In its own interests, India must read between the lines what Imran Khan has said at the biggest forum of the world.
— The writer, a retired Lt Col, is freelance columnist based in Islamabad.
