By Imran Ahmed Siddiqui
American President Trump came to Saudi Kingdom and then after 40 hours stay he reached Jewish capital Tel Aviv. It is interesting to compare his two visits. In Riaz, he had negotiations with King Salman and signed 400 billion dollars worth deal to sell the latest and sophisticated Arms and weapons. It is immaterial how those will be used and under whose supervision as Americans don’t allow even you paid hard cash to use such weapons at your will, it will start an Arms race between Saudi Kingdom and Iran. It will become difficult for West to stop Iran for going nuclear. It left Trump so happy that he boasted in his speech that he has arranged millions of jobs for fellow Americans and his first priority is the security for the Americans.
What the BBC and CNN were showing, King Salman showed a high class of hospitality, but the gathering was named as ‘Muslim and Arab’ world. This was the catch which our Arab brothers don’t understand. It was one ‘Muslim World’ and if it is recognized by our Arab brothers today then they will not need to have such shopping from United States. Arab world means Middle East then inviting other countries from other side of the globe was superfluous and sent a wrong message. Wrong term weakens your position.
The same line ‘Muslim and Arab World’ was uttered by Netanyahu and wished to go Riaz from Tel Aviv as Trump had come from Riaz, probably he was talking in the context of Greater Israel. The Saudi Protocol had missed to arrange a shake hand with our Prime Minister of the sole Muslim Nuclear Power with Trump. He was not listed to speak on the occasion. They even did not bother to invite him on the occasion of opening ceremony of the newly built centre against terrorism, whereas Haseena Wajid was present. This was disastrous and Saudis have to explain as he is still our Prime Minister and was representing Pakistan.
It is hypocrisy as Pakistan the only country who faced terrorism to the maximum and still tackling and fulfilling the ‘multiple desires’ of United States to do more, while losing more than 100 thousands lives was ignored by Trump. Start of invasion in 1979 and after 9/11 we as Pakistani nation faced the brunt, but it appears Americans have forgotten the recent history of Afghanistan. Who dismembered Soviet Union? Ignoring Pakistan and instigating Iran will create problems for America. The emotional hug with Israel on way to Vatican will rejuvenate Trump, but at the same time will create doubts in the Islamic world leading to isolation from Islamic world.
If anyone has doubts, he can check up from Bruce Reidel and William Caesey, but sorry he is dead. The speech writer of Trump is to be blamed, who did not know about Pakistan and appreciated India for fighting terrorism and skipped Pakistan as Trump was just reading teleprompter, otherwise India is itself a terrorist state and present situation in Kashmir is its true illustration. The American President has two and at time three different definitions of ‘terrorism’.
In his welcome address Netanyahu at Tel Aviv airport was presenting himself a person who fought against terrorism to the maximum. Donald Trump was candid to declare that Americans can’t leave him alone. In Riaz he categorized all Muslim fighting outfits as terrorist organizations and threat to Muslim and Arab World; whereas in Tel Aviv those were branded as threat to western civilizations, which is dangerous. It is astonishing that a super power like US can see a needle from the space, but does not know or find out the parameters of ISIS.
In Tel Aviv there was a cohesion of purpose in both the leaderships, but in Riaz all was in disarray in pomp and show. It is pity that Saudis and Iranians are being pitched against each other. Cleverly, Trump asked the tiny sheikhdoms of gulf to be together and sold 5 billion dollars worth F-16 aircrafts to Qatar. Will Qataris will be able to manage F-16? Already, they are committed to arrange world cup football.
In Riaz, Erdogon had left, our Prime Minister was portrayed as back bencher and there were advises worth 400 billion dollars for the Arab World to fight their own battle and in between the first lady Malina skimmed 100 million dollars from rich Arab ladies to fund the women liberation and empowerment. Attitude of our Saudi brothers is unprecedented and needs correction at the highest level immediately. They did not extended befitting protocols to our Prime Minister which is disgusting.
It can be an humble request and from many like minded that Arab-Iran should mend their differences as neither Sunnis cannot make all shia as ‘sunnis’ nor shia can force all Arabs as ‘shia’.