Seminar on new relationship
ISLAMABAD: Former defence secretary Lt Gen (retd) Khalid Naeem Lodhi has said that all Saudi and Iranian-financed madaris and religious institutions must be closed down forthwith if we want to end terrorism in Pakistan. Lodhi was replying to questions at a seminar on “Regional challenges and prospects -- Pakistan, Iran and Gulf countries relations” organised by the Centre for Global & Strategic Studies here onWednesday. He observed that the new military alliance in Gulf will not succeed. He said putting a commander in chief over the army of another country is like planting a full grown tree from a forest into a desert. Former ambassador Khalid Mahmood said that the TAPI gas pipeline project is not going to materialise because of unstable situation in Afghanistan. He suggested that Pakistan should instead give more importance to the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline. He said that Iran had built the pipeline up to its border city but we were far behind. He warned that Pakistan will have to pay fine if we did not complete it. Former foreign secretary AkramZaki said thatwe are creating bad relationswith Iran. He said that Huntington’s theory has been modified from Clash of Civilisation to Clashwithin Islamic Civilisation whereas Christians are closing their ranks. He said that West is not against Islam but against political Islam. He said that the process started with Iranian Revolution. He endorsed the view of other speakers that we should have not gone into the Gulf alliance and should dissociate from it. In his address, he said that Muslim West Asia is in turmoil and facing multiple conflicts in which major world powers, regional states and non-state actors of various shades are fighting battles in different directions. He said it is difficult to identify who are allies and who are adversaries. Another speaker said that as per Trump’s statement in Riyadh, the new alliance is against Iran and Russia is an ally of Iran. Where do we stand then? Ambassador Khalid Aziz Babar said that due to proximity with oil-rich countries in its west, Pakistan always remained a point of interest for the global powers. Answering a question, he said that people cross border from Pakistan into Iran in their efforts to go to Turkey and Europe. Similarly, there must be people crossing into Pakistan fromIranian border also and efforts including fixing barbed wire should be made to stop this illegal migration to thwart terrorists penetrating into Pakistan. Maj Gen (retd) Khalid A Jaffery said that Pakistan always enjoyed cordial tieswith the the Gulf states and Iran. He said that Tehran and Islamabad had been economic and strategic partners. Despite ups and downs, they stayed at positive note. He said that our expatriates work in the Gulf countries andwe have religious affiliation with Saudi Arabia in particular. Former ambassador Amjad Majid Abbasi said that more talks and discussions on the topic under discussion are required. Lt Gen (retd) Zahir ul Islam, former ISI DG and Chairperson of CGSS, said that Pakistan is being handled by the people whom you chose to govern. He said that he, fromhis past background, knew that people don’t speak in meetings. They must speak, he exhorted. He thanked the audience and speakers in the end.