Pak Experts Question Mideast Initiative

Sources privy to President House told IOL that Musharraf was on a mission to form a 9-member like-minded group to push forward his initiative.

"Nobody knows what he actually has in his mind, but the way he is behaving and talking shows that his initiative has one-point aim that is to pave the way for recognition of Israel by the Muslim world," Dr Shamim Akhtar, a veteran international relations expert, told IslamOnline.net.

"It seems to me that in the first phase of this initiative, Hamas will be taken under pressure by Musharraf and so-called like-minded group of countries to recognize Israel, and in the second phase, Pakistan and other Muslim states will do the same."

Last week, Musharraf drummed up support for his plan in talks with the leaders of Asian heavyweights Indonesia and Malaysia, current chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

The Pakistani leader has announced reaching an agreement with the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates to develop a Muslim peace initiative for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Musharraf is also optimistic his plan would win backing from the West.

"Since the West is looking and searching for methods and new ideas of bringing peace to the region I think any new idea, any new initiative would be acceptable to them as long as it is workable and credible and acceptable to all."

Sources privy to President House told IOL that Musharraf was on a mission to form a 9-member like-minded group to push forward his initiative.

The members of the group will be Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia.

The initiative, whose details have not been uncovered as yet, has been dominating the print and electronic media in Pakistan.

Seminars, discussions and conferences are being held on the initiative better known to his mastermind or his close aides.

Skeptical

Dr Akhtar is skeptical about the success of the much-publicized initiative.

"Musharraf better concentrate to resolve the simmering issues of Waziristan and Balochistan, where pitched battles between the militants and armed forces have become a routine affair," he said.

Akhtar accused the Pakistani leader of being a "sales agent" for the United States to serve its interests in Middle East after Afghanistan.

"He should not sell the US-sponsored proposals in the Middle East as he did in case of Afghanistan and Kashmir."

Ayaz Ameer, a veteran columnist and a former parliamentarian, insists that the key parties of the Mideast conflict, including the ruling Hamas, do not take Musharraf's initiative seriously.

"As for the 'radicals' in the region – Hizbullah, Hamas, Syria and Iran - they think we are an American puppet or at least too much under American influence," he told IOL.

"They don't take us seriously.

"If this solution is anything like his Kashmir solution - which is pleasing India enormously while confusing and demoralizing the Kashmiris - expect Hamas at least to flee and take cover at the first sight of it."

Writing in his recent column, Ameer ridiculed Musharraf's initiative.

"Our leadership - in power and glory for no fault of ours - is about to fix Palestine and the other problems of the Middle East. What should we admire more, our leadership's audacity or its eternal willingness to look foolish?" he wondered.

"A country up to its gills with problems of its own, after 60 years of independent statehood still unable to decide which political system it should adopt - rule of the people or rule of the general staff? - trying to put on the mantle of Middle Eastern statesmanship. It's enough to take one's breath away."

Wishful Thinking

Shahnawaz Farooqi, a senior columnist and an expert on Middle East affairs, said Musharraf was daydreaming.

"He forgets the fact that he is an incidental leader. He should be thankful to Osama Bin laden and (Taliban leader) Mullah Omer, who helped him reach at this stage, otherwise, he would simply have been a retired army general," he told IOL.

"Musharraf must not forget that he stands alongside the occupation forces, while Pakistanis in line with the people of other Muslim countries stand alongside the resisting forces, which do not bow to the supremacy of America," said Farooqi.

"My suggestion to Musharraf is that there is so much to do at home. Palestine will take care of itself. And even if it doesn't, it won't be seeking any help from Pakistan at least."

Mushahid Hussein, a former editor and secretary general of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML), believes Musharraf's initiative is a strip in the right direction.

"Pakistan is directly affected by the current situation in Palestine and Iraq, therefore it is in our better interest too that these burning issues be resolved as soon as possible," he told reporters.

Mushahid, also the chairman of Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, insisted that Musharraf's initiative has been welcomed by the regional and Mideast countries.

However, Mushahid was himself quite sketchy about the talked-about initiative.

"I think in the first phase, Pakistan is trying to form a group of like-minded countries, which can influence and convince the remaining Muslim states. And in the next step, a solution acceptable to all the parties can be worked out."