Pakistan and the Kuala Lumpur Summit

Pakistani Premier's refusal to attend the Kuala Lumpur Summit has been objected far and wide in Pakistan and abroad. The reasons of why he showed his inability to attend the summit in question are quite obvious but we all ought to see whether it was an act of prudence or otherwise. Although, the Malaysian PM, Dr. Mahatir expressed his views and made it clear that the summit was not to counterweigh OIC, but even then some facts may be considered as a base-line:-

A. Pakistan has remained an active and important member of OIC, which is the only organisation of its kind to bring Muslim Ummah under one flag, although just for the sake of saying.

B. Relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have always remained cordial for the former has been a supporting hand for the latter, on diplomatic and economic ends especially. Saudia hosts one of the largest number of expatriats from Pakistan which forms the basis of foreign remittances to run its fragile economy.

C. Pakistan and Malaysia have good ties but not as closer as the former has with the Saudia. After all, capital is a stronger substitute for gentle-talk in world politics.

D. Saudia has always strived to claim the lead role in issues pertaining to the Ummah, though its status as a sincere member of OIC is dubious for its silence on issues like Palestine and Kashmir; and major irritants like blasmphemy and Islamophobia don't fit in to its role as a big-brother.

E. Of late, Turkey under Erdogan has surfaced as a major player in regional politics and has tried to reclaim its lost honour after almost a century. Probably that is why it matters more when Turkey voices at regional and global levels.

Now let's see why it mattered not to attend the summit:-

A. Saudia would never like its role in international and regional politics being undermined by another player or players of sorts, and that too when Turkey is one of the major participants of the summit. Pakistani premier's attendance would have rung the bells for Saudia to reconsider its priorities.

B. It is quite obvious that Pakistan's reluctance to send troops for Saudia's war in Yemen was taken with a pinch of salt by the latter. Another misadventure would have cost Pakistan both an ally and a friend who has stood by Pakistan through thick and thin. Pakistan is already thankful for being supported by Saudia after 27 February incident, much to India's chagrin.

C. Reportedly, جماعتہ اخوان المسلمین (Muslim Brotherhood: a rightist party in Egypt) has the support of Turkey and Malaysia whereas Saudia never approves of its role in Egypt's political landscape. Pakistan's premier has averted Saudia's pique by not outweighing it a bit more openly.

D. Iran, as always, is the bête-noire to Saudia. Iran's participation in the summit is also an indication of Saudia's hard-line approach. So by not going to the summit, Pakistan's PM rightly made a wise choice.

E. OIC Headquarters is in Riyadh. It may have occured to the Saudis that the summit may undermine Saudia's role as a forerunner Muslim state. So again, Mr. Khan made the right judgment call.

Overall, it seems that Pakistan's PM didn't make a mistake to express his inability to attend the summit, given the pros of the decison are more than the cons, if any. India is planning to fiddle with the regional situation by evoking Pakistan amidst turmoil on either side of the border and it was wise for Mr. Khan to have stayed put in the tumultuos situations. So let's hope the situation gets better with changing times.