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Crisis of leadership in Muslim world
M. Afsar Ali Farajee
Till 1990, the world was practically bi-polar, but after the fall of the Soviet Union communism is practically dead and the world has turned into a fully unipolar one. The only leader of the present world is USA which is dictating the whole world in the name of democracy and protection of human rights.
Now the position has become so bad for the Muslims of the world especially in Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur (of Sudan) and other parts of the world where everyday innocent people are being killed, houses are burnt of demolished, women are raped, thousands of innocent people are detained in the concentration camps without any trial and without any charge. Everyday, in occupied Palestine innocent Palestinians are being brutally killed by Israeli army. Israel captured the whole area of proposed Palestine state in 1967 in a six-day Arab Israel war.
Iraq, Bush and God's order
In the name of war against terror Iraq was attacked and captured in March, 2003 by US-led forces on the plea that President Saddam Hossain was manufacturing huge quantity of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), President Saddam was ousted from power and he was hanged as per verdict of a Kangaroo court of Iraq. But, in reality no WMD was found in Iraq. President Bush says it is God who ordered him to attack Saddam Hossain. And now, Bagdad, which was once a cradle of Muslim civilisation of historic fame and Abbasid dynasty is completely destroyed. The present regime of Iraq is nothing but a puppet govt of USA and her allied forces. Baghdad, a great city built by Caliph Harun-Ar-Rashid, famous for the stories of the Arabian Nights, is now nothing but memories of past Muslim history and culture.
Afghan scenario
There is practically no govt. of the Afghan people in whole of NATO-led occupied Afghanistan. Even, Hamid Karjai govt does not fully control Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. It is being criticised in some print media that US Ambassador in Kabul is the governor of Kabul and Hamid Karjai is the mayor of Kabul city under the US Ambassador. Hamid Karjai's govt has no control practically over Afghanistan.
All the provincial governors are practically the warlords of different provincial capitals and these warlord governors only pay a verbal allegiance to Hamid Karjai. NATO-led multinational forces have no control beyond their camps, cantonments, garrisons and air base, the whole of Afghanistan except the cities is fully controlled by the Talibans. It is alleged that the Talibans are heavily engaged in heroine or drug trade. It is also alleged that by illegal drug trade the Talibans are earning millions of dollars which is used in war efforts by the Talibans. It is also believed and alleged that the Talibans get substantial financial help and arms from different other countries through different non-govt. sources.
It is also alleged that many foreigners (Muslims) are fighting in the Taliban guerrilla forces. It is also alleged by the govt. of Hamid Karjai that the Taliban guerrillas get sanctatuary, shelter, training and even medical facilities in many Tribal areas of Pakistan. But, the govt. of Pakistan always denies it.
But it is a fact that Pakistan govt has minimum control over many tribal areas including northern Waziristan. Border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is so porous that tribal people of both the countries cross this international border at random. And neither the Pakistan Army nor the Afghan govt forces can stop it. Even fencing of barbed wire may not help. Smuggling is practically a common matter. Many people of both Pakistan and Afghanistan are solely dependent on smuggling for their daily livelihood.
Now the govt of USA declared openly to carry out air raid against such alleged Taliban training camps situated in Tribal areas without prior permission of the govt of Pakistan. Pakistan has already protested such remarks by US.
It is also reported that in air raids of NATO-led air forces Talibans are not really killed but only civilians of Afghanistan are killed and many of them are children, women and even very old men. But, the real Talibans very easily escape. Many experts and media analysts including many former army generals opine that it may take at least a decade to defeat the Talibans and to restore peace in Afghanistan. Are the Talibans undefeatable?
King Zahir's ouster
He may be mentioned here that Hizbullah gurrellas of Hasan Nasrullah proved to be a great success against the regular Israeli army, though the Lebanon govt did not participate in this war.
Now, a question automatically may arise in our mind who are the Talibans? We should try to find out the answer. Afghanistan was originally a monarchy and king-Zahir Shah was the king of Afghanistan. But he was ousted in a military coup led by the chief of of Afghan army. King Zahir went into exile in Switzerland among with his family.
Socialist form of govt. was formed in Afghanistan. In 1979, Russian (USSR) army arrived in Afghanistan and pro-Soviet puppet Afghanistan govt was formed. At least 30 lakh Afghan refugees took shelter in Pakistan and few lakh in Iran. US-led Western aid for the refugees was given. Many oil producing Muslim countries including Saudia Arabia. UAE, Kuwait and Qatar provided huge quantity of relief goods for the refugees.
Taleban, CIA, ISI
Both CIA and ISI (of Pakistan) provided extensive military training to the Afghan refugees. USA and even Saudi Arabia provided different types of weapons to the Afghan guerrillas. These Afghan Mujahideen formed a govt in exile in Pakistan. Eleven powerful Afghan Mujahideen groups started guerrilla war against puppet govt of Afghanistan and also against the occupation Soviet forces. Afghan guerrilla commander Ahmed Shah Masud and Gulbuddin Hekmatiar became extremely famous.
In 1987 all Soviet troops were withdrawn from Afghanistan. The Afghan Mujahideens captured Kabul and the whole of Afghanistan by massive military help of USA, Saudia Arabia and Pakistan. President Najibullah of Afghanistan was ousted from and also killed by the Afghan Mujahideen.
Abdur Rashid Dostum of Afghan air force ultimately joined the Mujahideens at the fag end of the war. Borhan Uddin Rabbani became the president. Both Ahmed Shah Masud and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar became part of the govt. Soon civil war started among different Mujahidden groups. Gun became the rule of Afghanistan.
Mullah Omar, CIA and ISI
Mullah Muhammad Omar was living in Pakistan as an Afghan refugee. He was teacher of a Madrassa (Islamic seminary of the Afghan refugees). With the help of CIA and ISI Mullah Omar formed a strong guerrilla force by the students of Madrassas (Islamic seminaries). CIA and ISI provided both training and all sorts of military help including full logistic support to Mullah Muhammad Omar and his forces who are known as the Talibans. Saudia Arabia also provided both economic and military help to the Talibans. Soon, the Talibans captured power in Kabul and 90 per cent area of Afghanistan.
Taliban is originally the product of USA (CIA) and ISI of Pakistan. Even, Osama Bin Laden (Saudia Arabian born) and his Al-Quieda is also the by-product of CIA of USA. But after the event of 9\11 of 2001 the situation of the whole world changed. US-led NATO forces attacked and captured Afghanistan and Talibans were driven from state power. USA started worldwide war against terrorism. Under US pressure Pakistan had to withdraw support to Taliban regime in Afghanistan. But Pakistan failed to achieve politically except 'thank you' for Gen. Mosharraf. Now, it is apprehended that territorial integrity of Pakistan is in great danger especially in tribal areas and Baluchistan.
Disputed territories
Problem of Kashmir is a great obstacle for building good relations between India and Pakistan and smooth growth of SAARC. It was India who took the Kashmir dispute of the UN Security Council in 1948 against Pakistan alleging that Pakistan was an aggressor. A cease-fire took place between Pakistan and India. UN Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution for holding a free plebiscite of the Kashmiri people which was never held. Kashmir became a divided and disputed territory and the Kashmiris were denied the right of self-determination.
After 1947 partition of British India three wars were fought between India and Pakistan and out of these three wars, two were fought over Kashmir. UN Security Council and all the big five powers of the world played no major role for solution of Kashmir problem. In the meantime 60 years have already passed.
Another great problem faced by the Muslim world is the Sudan crisis. At present Sudan is virtually a divided country. Guerrillas of Sudan liberation army (Christians-Black) has already captured a great southern portion of Sudan. This Christian south Sudan is fully aided by the western world especially USA. UK, France, Germany, Italy etc. they get arms, money, training and all out material support against the govt. of Sudan from these countries US-led Western world wants to divide Sudan as there is huge oil, gas and other valuable resources in the deserts of southern Sudan.
UNSC and the 5
UN was formed by the victorious allied powers of the Second World War after the end of the war in 1945. Only 51 states of then world participated in it. At that time there were very few independent Muslim states. Independent Muslim states i.e. Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia joined. All the big powerful states of allied powers were made permanent members of the UN Security Council with veto power. These states were USA, UK, France, USSR (now Russia) and China of Chiang Kai-shek (now China).
In 1950 Korea war broke out between North Korea and South Korea. millions of Chinese volunteers participated for North Korea. Only, this time as per UN resolution of the security council UN soldiers under the US command participated in this war against communist aggression of North Korea.
When the Korean War began on June 25th, 1950 it featured a heavily armed North Korean army against a weak and surprised South Korean army. As the North Koreans pounded upon the South Koreans, they were forced from their homes and pushed further and further towards the southeast of Korea. South Korea called upon the United Nations for help and they helped push North Korea back towards China. When China became involved in the war, the North Koreans were once again on top and they pushed back into South Korea. However a final push from the South Korean's regained their once lost Seoul, putting a cease to the limited war that was being fought. In June 1953 a ceasefire agreement was signed between North and South Korea. In between the beginning of the war in 1950 and the cease-fire in 1953 there were many changes, pushes, and decisions that still affect Korea today.
MacArthur came up with a plan to defeat the N. Koreans. He found a way to lead them north where a S. Korean army would fight them, then the troops in Pusan would attack the army from the south. The plan worked and S. Koreans set off to take over Seoul. At this point 100,000 N.Korean troops were unsafe. The only thing MacArthur had to do was to cut off their retreat. MacArthur could pass the 38th parallel only using S. Korean troops.
It was possible delegate of USSR was absent at the Security Council and boycotted the meeting and present communist China was not a member of UNSC. This war was practically fought by USA and her allies in the name of crush communists. Pakistan also participated in the UN forces. In 1953- A cease fire took place. But Korea remained portioned till today. So, problem of division of Korea is still an undecided one.
The UNSC miserably failed to solve all the problems like Kashmir dispute, Vietnam War, Suez canal crisis, Palestine issue and so on. But a question may easily arise why UNSC failed, the simple answer is the veto power of 5 permanent members of UNSC. It is a matter of great pain that the Muslim world has no representation among the 5 permanent members of UNSC though Muslim constitute at least 30 per cent - 35 per cent of world population and there are 57 independent Muslim states and the total membership of UNGA is 192.
Zero+zero=zero
Though there are 57 independent Muslim states in the world but practically none of them is super power. Only Pakistan is a nuclear power. Hence, OIC is nothing but is practically zero plus zero, and the result is a big zero.
The UN bodies are used by the 5 big powers for there- self-interest, hegemony and for creation of zone of influence. The Muslims of the world have forgotten their past pride and glory. There was a time when Muslims were the rulers of half of the known world. They ruled for more than 700 years in Spain and even in pre-British India.
Turkish navy was the most powerful navy of the world and Khair-Uddin Barbares was the lord of the seas. A great portion of Europe was under the Turkish rule such as Greece, Bulgaria, Rumania, Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania. Entire North and East Africa was under Muslim rule, including present Tanzania, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Morocco and Mali (including Chad). Where is the past glory? Now, we are so weak that we are not able to safeguard our own sovereignty (as happened in Afghanistan and Iraq).
The picture that has been described above shows a great painful and horrible position of the whole Muslim world. There is no such benevolent popular able leader in the whole Muslim world who has taken any initiative to solve the problems faced by the Muslim world.
Palestine and US
If we think that USA (along with UK) will establish an independent Palestine state then it is a 100 per cent myth. In the past the Muslim world had many leaders, kings and great warriors like Hazrat Omar, Khalid-Bin-Walid, Amar Ibnul and Gazi Salah Uddin. It was king Gazi Salah Uddin who fought heroic wars against crusade war called by Pope Arban and king Richard of England. Christian rulers were driven from Jerusalem and Palestine. The whole world knows the bravery and heroism of great patriot king Gazi Sultan, when this Sultan Gazi Salahuddin expired only 3 (Three) gold coins were available in his house and with this paltry amount his funeral expenses were defrayed. But still he was merely a Sultan (king) who always paid allegiance to Caliph of Baghdad and he also never declared himself as caliph. But he always devoted and declared himself as a servant of Allah. So, piow, he was that history failed to produce any body who was parallel to him. Below I propose a few proposals for future well being of the world Muslim Ummah.
Muslim commonwealth
Islam does not believe in regional or territorial nationalism. Muslims of the whole world -- whether they are living in India, or Pakistan or elsewhere -- are one nation. All the Muslim states should take up all out efforts for solidarity unity of the Muslim Ummah.
If there can be British Commonwealth of nations of 54 independent states then way can't there be a Muslim commonwealth of nations? Any Muslim state will be eligible to be its member. Membership will be voluntary. A member state shall be able to withdraw her membership after one year. Head of the Muslim commonwealth shall be selected by Muslim states through consensus. Term for such post may be five years with a provision of maximum two terms. Constitution may be framed in this regard which must be ratified by national parliaments of all member states.
Muslim common market
There should be total free trade area among all the Muslim states. There may be voluntary economic union in which all the Muslim states shall be eligible to be the members. There may be a Muslim common market consisting of all Muslim nations.
There may be only one or single currency unit. All the Muslim states will be allowed this currency as their own currency. To accept this single currency will be 100 per cent voluntary for any member state. An international Muslim bank may be formed.
Muslim bank for development
There may be an International Muslim Bank for reconstruction. Proposed authorised share capital may be fixed at 100 billion dollars. The headquarters of this proposed bank may be located at Jeddah and there should be board of governors as may be determined by the member shareholder states.
Muslim atomic energy commission: There may be an International Muslim Atomic Energy Commission and its headquarters may be located in Dhaka. This agency shall be responsible for carrying on research for peaceful use of atomic/nuclear energy. Nuclear power plants may be built for generating electricity. Oil-rich Muslim countries may provide sufficient fund for this proposed commission.
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