|
A Tangible Visit
by
Mumtaz Hamid Rao
Towards the end of his visit to UK, the President General Pervez Musharraf is now
in the United States for a summit meeting with President Bush on significant global issues--with
focus on the South Asian scenario, explicitly the Kashmir issue--atop.
A pragmatic view of the President's tour to Britain makes it crystal clear that the nations which
really matter in today's' epoch have now full understanding of the perilous situation in this part of
the world n' do wish a durable peace via the solution of all issues between the two nuclear
neighbours. Its evident from the fabulous outcome of the talks between the President n' British Prime
Minister, Tony Blair.
This journey for peace shall also take the President to France n' Germany after his parleys with the
US leadership. There is no doubt that President Musharraf is undertaking this tour at a time when the
Muslim world is facing serious challenges. Iraq has been occupied by the United States while
Afghanistan is in a shambles as a result of the American war against terrorism. Multifarious
pressures are being exerted on Iran and Syria in pursuit of Washington’s hegemonic designs in the
Middle East.
Pakistan too is being blackmailed in the name of religious extremism. A faulty and distorted image of
Pakistan and Islam has been created deliberately or inadvertently at the international level. As the
international community lends its ear to President Musharraf, it’s incumbent upon him to discount the
negative perception about Islam in addition to his agenda to promote Pakistan’s interests.
He should accept the bigger role of leader of the Muslim world as well to focus the truth. Seemingly,
however, President Musharraf’s agenda of talks with the Western leaders doesn’t cover the plight of
the Muslims. It’s hoped that the President will avail the opportunity of his interaction with the
Western leaders in repudiating the negative propaganda against Islam and will bring home to them the
injustices and deprivations being perpetrated on the Muslim world by the West especially the United
States deliberately or inadvertently.
It’s imperative to seek peaceful resolution of Kashmir and Palestinian issues, which are the bleeding
wounds of the Muslim world. Their solution will eliminate much of the grievances of the Muslim world
and will contribute towards peace and security in the volatile regions.
Islam is the religion of peace, tolerance and compassion, yet paradoxically, it is being projected as
an aggressive religion primarily due to the failure of the Muslim scholars and leaders to project it
in its true perspective.
One zestfully hopes that the current voyage of the President shall help achieve the desired results
with the evaporation of all the wrong notions--which are being currently--beamed by a set of hostile
countries like India via a ferocious media crusade against Pakistan to pollute the world's mind with
one ploy or the other.
With this perception, the visit seeks a lofty impact, backed by a ray of hope that the West
will--eventually--accept the ground realities, in a truthful style n' would expectantly deal with the
matters in the way its' ought to be at least as the 'champions of human rights' by striking an
equilibrium vis-à-vis every facet to the ultimate best of its' own index for peace all-over.
The author is a noted journalist, political analyst and ex-Director News Pakistan TV.
Source:
by courtesy & © 2003 Mumtaz Hamid Rao
by the same
author:
|
