Sarah Ameer
The Israel-Palestine conflict is widely recognised as one of the longest conflicts in the world. The beginning of the conflict traces back to the 20th century. The Palestine issue is deeply rooted in the basic principles of dignity, self-determination, integrity, and safety. Owing to Muslim struggle against colonial occupation in the sub-continent, these principles resonate well with Pakistan’s freedom movement. Therefore, despite change in governments and political differences, the state of Pakistan, be it the civilian or the military leadership, has maintained a clear stance on the Palestine issue which has remained consistent over decades.
The state of Pakistan advocates the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. In its solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians and as a protest against the illegal Israeli occupation, Pakistan even refuses to recognise the rogue Israeli state. Besides this, Pakistan has consistently raised its voice against Israeli occupation using forums like United Nations (UN) and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), asserting that peace in the Middle Eastern region cannot be attained unless the issue of Palestine is peacefully and justly resolved. The consistent nature of Pakistan’s stance on Palestine reflects a foreign policy that is deeply embedded in the principles of morality, justice and legality instead of near-term political gains. The ongoing war between the US, Israel and Iran further highlights the indispensable nature of such principles and policies. Pakistan’s emphasis on peaceful resolution of the ongoing US and Israel-Iran conflict has bolstered its image as a regional actor that is aversive to war and instead prioritises restraint and dialogue for the greater good of the entire region. The entire world has recognised Pakistan’s rise as a strong mediator in the ongoing war. This has certainly increased Pakistan’s diplomatic relevance in global affairs. Most importantly, Pakistan’s stature among the Muslim community, which seeks a balanced leadership capable of safeguarding legitimate rights of oppressed Muslim societies and standing up for peace, has been elevated.
While Pakistan has emerged as a credible and reliable voice in a world marred by armed conflicts, prudence lies in morphing this opportunity into a position of influence. Pakistan’s efforts for peaceful resolution of conflict should not stay limited to the Iran-US and Israel war; the state of Pakistan should proactively raise the Palestine issue with greater determination and confidence. For that, Pakistan must work in coordination with Turkiye, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Indonesia and other global actors including China to press on International institutions for peaceful resolution of the Palestine issue. The issue of Palestine is a litmus test for the international community. While the Israeli war crimes have already laid bare the reality of “rule-based” world order, a sincere effort on part of the international community must be made to save the remaining remnants of the falling rule-based world order.
The writer is a freelance columnist
