06-09-2006, 05:36 AM
Friday, June 09, 2006
Attack on Iran will create panic in the Islamic world
By Zahid Hameed
ISLAMABAD: The participants of a seminar on Thursday warned the world against the catastrophic consequences that could be set in motion if the United States opted for punitive measures against Iran to resolve the nuclear standoff.
âThe attack on Iran will set the entire Islamic Ummah in disarray. It will destabilise the Middle Eastern region and put the world at stake,â speakers said at a seminar titled âIran - US standoff: options for Pakistanâ, organised by the Institute of policy studies (IPS). The participants asked the government to adopt a pro-active foreign policy to stop the US from attacking Iran over its nuclear programme.
Speaking on the US perspective, Lieutenant General Talat Masood said that the US had placed the decision in the hands of the Iranian government after offering alternatives to Iran to put a stop to its uranium enrichment. He said that the US perceived Iran as a hegemonic regional power in the Middle East, which could turn into a global power thus challenging US authority.
He said that the possibility of the United Statesâ military action against Iran could not be ruled out. âIran failed to report the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding its plutonium enrichment, which gave rise to suspicion, in addition the Iranian presidentâs statements regarding extinguishing the state of Israel has contributed to heightened tensions between both countries,â Masood said. After 9/11 the United States has been pursuing an aggressive policy and it is applying the same against Iran in the wake of its new nuclear revelations, he said. Masood observed that there were conflicts in approaches towards solving the Iranian nuclear issue, within the key players.
Agha Murtaza Poya observed that there was no nuclear standoff between the two countries other than that of the âIslamic Bombâ, which was a disturbing factor for the US. Poya also made other observations regarding the Middle Eastâs future, claiming that there would only be a united Palestinian state and no Israel after 2008, as anti-Zionism was gaining strength in the US.
He said that Iran had never stated to have developed nuclear weapons or threatened a nuclear attack on any other nation, which both the US and Israel had done at one point or another. Regarding available Pakistani options in case the United States did attack Iran, he said, that all Pakistan could do was abide by its own foreign policy. He observed that the super power would eventually have to come to a historic comprise with the Islamic world and Pakistan will not have to make a choice between US and Iran.
Shamshad Ahmad Khan, the former secretary foreign affairs, said that Pakistan favored a peaceful resolution of the crisis since any punitive action against Iran would disturb the country due to its geo-strategic location.
He was of the view that the IAEA should address all gaps in Iranâs nuclear program and stressed that Pakistan abstain from playing any role in resolving the standoff between the two countries, as it doesnât have any clout in the international politics Senator Khurshid Ahmad said that Pakistan should adopt a pro-active foreign policy so that the US could not go to war against Iran
<b>
Khurshid was of the opinion that if the super powers did not accept the reality of their brutalities, they would be responsible for any resistance that could result from the struggle. âTerrorism is the product of asymmetry of power and weapon of the weak against the powerful,â he said.</b>
Khursheed stressed that Pakistan should act to stop US from using force against Iran even if it was mandated by the UN, saying that illegitimate decisions cannot be put at par with legitimate ones. â Any action against Iran would go against the Muslim World and the region. Iran must not be left alone,â he stressed. The speakers expressed satisfaction at the recent developments and the considerable reduction in tension between both countries. They termed US readiness to hold negotiations with Iranians on the nuclear issue, as a positive policy shift.
Attack on Iran will create panic in the Islamic world
By Zahid Hameed
ISLAMABAD: The participants of a seminar on Thursday warned the world against the catastrophic consequences that could be set in motion if the United States opted for punitive measures against Iran to resolve the nuclear standoff.
âThe attack on Iran will set the entire Islamic Ummah in disarray. It will destabilise the Middle Eastern region and put the world at stake,â speakers said at a seminar titled âIran - US standoff: options for Pakistanâ, organised by the Institute of policy studies (IPS). The participants asked the government to adopt a pro-active foreign policy to stop the US from attacking Iran over its nuclear programme.
Speaking on the US perspective, Lieutenant General Talat Masood said that the US had placed the decision in the hands of the Iranian government after offering alternatives to Iran to put a stop to its uranium enrichment. He said that the US perceived Iran as a hegemonic regional power in the Middle East, which could turn into a global power thus challenging US authority.
He said that the possibility of the United Statesâ military action against Iran could not be ruled out. âIran failed to report the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding its plutonium enrichment, which gave rise to suspicion, in addition the Iranian presidentâs statements regarding extinguishing the state of Israel has contributed to heightened tensions between both countries,â Masood said. After 9/11 the United States has been pursuing an aggressive policy and it is applying the same against Iran in the wake of its new nuclear revelations, he said. Masood observed that there were conflicts in approaches towards solving the Iranian nuclear issue, within the key players.
Agha Murtaza Poya observed that there was no nuclear standoff between the two countries other than that of the âIslamic Bombâ, which was a disturbing factor for the US. Poya also made other observations regarding the Middle Eastâs future, claiming that there would only be a united Palestinian state and no Israel after 2008, as anti-Zionism was gaining strength in the US.
He said that Iran had never stated to have developed nuclear weapons or threatened a nuclear attack on any other nation, which both the US and Israel had done at one point or another. Regarding available Pakistani options in case the United States did attack Iran, he said, that all Pakistan could do was abide by its own foreign policy. He observed that the super power would eventually have to come to a historic comprise with the Islamic world and Pakistan will not have to make a choice between US and Iran.
Shamshad Ahmad Khan, the former secretary foreign affairs, said that Pakistan favored a peaceful resolution of the crisis since any punitive action against Iran would disturb the country due to its geo-strategic location.
He was of the view that the IAEA should address all gaps in Iranâs nuclear program and stressed that Pakistan abstain from playing any role in resolving the standoff between the two countries, as it doesnât have any clout in the international politics Senator Khurshid Ahmad said that Pakistan should adopt a pro-active foreign policy so that the US could not go to war against Iran
<b>
Khurshid was of the opinion that if the super powers did not accept the reality of their brutalities, they would be responsible for any resistance that could result from the struggle. âTerrorism is the product of asymmetry of power and weapon of the weak against the powerful,â he said.</b>
Khursheed stressed that Pakistan should act to stop US from using force against Iran even if it was mandated by the UN, saying that illegitimate decisions cannot be put at par with legitimate ones. â Any action against Iran would go against the Muslim World and the region. Iran must not be left alone,â he stressed. The speakers expressed satisfaction at the recent developments and the considerable reduction in tension between both countries. They termed US readiness to hold negotiations with Iranians on the nuclear issue, as a positive policy shift.