It is unfortunate that diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia have broken down. Saudi Arabia claims that it was their sovereign right to execute a Shia scholar who was awarded a death sentence by their court. Iran, on the other hand, claims that execution was motivated by sectarianism rather than justice. Iran’s inability to protect Saudi embassy and consulate further aggravated the situation. These are policy positions that require a deeper debate among the members of Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). There has been a long history of interference in domestic affairs of countries, for example Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia, Pakistan and Yemen. Similarly, Muslim majority countries lack reliable system of justice that provides fair trial, creditable prosecution and protection of witnesses that come forward against elites. It is also well documented that both Iran and Saudi Arabia are engaged in promoting their brand of sectarianism and causing divisions among the Ummah.
To defuse the immediate crisis, Pakistan should play the role of a mediator between Iran and Saudi Arabia. A dialogue should be initiated to resolve the concerns of both countries and reestablish their diplomatic ties. Pakistan should not take sides because one is our immediate neighbour while the other is a close friend and ally. Pakistan should reach out to Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia and Malaysia to create international diplomatic efforts to defuse the tension between these two important countries.
To find long term solutions to important policy issues, OIC should be converted from passive to an active organisation to discuss questions of sovereignty, extremism, fundamentalism, human rights, social development, political development, security and trade. Ignoring these will keep Muslim majority countries internally weak resulting in interference from international powers producing breakdown of governments, collateral damage and displacement of families. Our inability to act will spread the chaos that has already engulfed countries of North Africa and Middle East. This can create an enabling environment for affiliates of Islamic State to emerge in other countries.
ABDUL QUAYYUM KHAN KUNDI
Islamabad