Talk about the Hamas conflict, Bangladesh political turmoil, Syria & Lebanese civil war, riots and turbulence in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan, or the strife in Pakistan. What’s that one thing in common? Why are most Islamic nations across the globe witnessing unrest? What is the reason behind violence in these Islamic states most of the time? All of these are age-old conflicts which have triggered a huge humanitarian crisis that still persists. But before beginning this segment, let’s be clear, not all Islamic states are at war or indulged in violence. In fact, there are a few Muslim countries like UAE and Turkey that are quite peaceful. From 2011 to 2014, civil wars occurred in several Muslim-majority countries. The Middle East, a conflict-prone region, has seen significant political instability due to historical & ethnic tension, oil trade, and, of course foreign interventions. Experts say it’s more of a geographical issue than a religious one. Like, oil production, which is mostly centered in the Middle East, has always been a trump card in this game. The Middle East is home to a significant share of the world’s oil reserves, making it crucial for global energy security. Global powers also are often accused of creating disturbances for control over these resources to maintain economic stability and for geopolitical influence. The U.S. is often accused of expanding conflicts in the Middle East. The U.S. military’s involvement in the Middle East has only intensified regional tensions. Interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan led to prolonged instability, power vacuums, and violence. The continuous U.S. military’s presence, including bases and fleets, is seen as foreign occupation, creating local resentment. Drone strikes and covert operations, while targeting terrorists, have also caused civilian casualties, inflaming tensions. Now let’s throw some light on three of our Muslim-dominated neighbours- Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Talking about Pakistan, on August 15, 1947, the provisions of West Pakistan and East Pakistan were formally established and Liaqat Ali Khan became the first Prime Minister of independent Pakistan. But after a few months, in October, Pakistan had a war with India. It was the first of four wars of Pakistan with India. Later, on October 16, 1951, Liaqat Khan was assassinated by an Afghan militant, and Governor-General Nazimuddin took over. On May 19, 1954, the U.S. government agreed to provide military assistance to Pakistan. And, in October 1958, President Iskandar Mirza abolished the constitution, broke the National Assembly, and proclaimed martial law on October 7, 1958. Since then, Pakistan not only obtained help from USA but also got military assistance, making Pakistan among the top recipients of US aid. Moreover, China and Pakistan have enjoyed a close and mutually beneficial relationship. Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China in 1950. Pakistan’s military, relies on Chinese technology: ballistic missiles, aircraft (including the JF-17 Thunder and K-8 Karakorum), and nuclear assistance. But these foreign interventions, radical mindset and hatred against India have only backfired. Now, Pakistan is facing its most severe economic crisis in half a century, with inflation skyrocketing to 38%, the highest in South Asia. This surge has drastically increased the cost of essentials, making everyday life challenging for people. The country is now mostly relying on foreign aid to even run the government. Talking about the state of affairs in Afghanistan, it’s something more disturbing. Afghanistan is once again all about the Taliban, a Sunni Islamic fundamentalist and primarily Pashtun movement, who ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. But, in 2001, US invaded Afghanistan to capture Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda members which led to the collapse of the Taliban regime. Later, in 2014, Ashraf Ghani was elected President of Afghanistan. However, President Ghani escaped to the UAE in 2021 after Taliban fighters reached Kabul following U.S. troupes’ withdrawal. Subsequently, Hibatullah Akhundzada became the Supreme Leader of Afghanistan. The Taliban swiftly regained control of the country and the government in Kabul. Despite early promises to uphold human rights, the Taliban has progressively reinstated its stringent interpretation of SHARIA law, which includes public executions, amputations, and flogging. Since the takeover, there has been a significant rollback of the liberal and democratic advances made over the past two decades. Women, in particular, face severe restrictions on their rights, including education, employment, freedom of speech, movement, and attire. Those who protest these measures, they risk harassment, threats, detention, arrest, torture, and even forced disappearance. Afghanistan is also grappling with one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, worsened by economic collapse. This crisis has led to widespread displacement, poverty, and food insecurity, with approximately 23.7 million Afghans in need of humanitarian assistance as of February 2024. Additionally, the Islamic State of Khorasan Province, an affiliate of the Islamic State, continues to target civilians with bombings and other attacks, further deepening the country’s instability and conflict. Apart from this, both USA and Russia have been accused of the disturbances in Afghanistan to satiate their vested interests. Talking about Bangladesh, in 1971, the then East Pakistan, Bangladesh, suffered a genocide perpetrated by Pakistan’s army. And this brutal massacre lasted for around 9 long months. But India came to the rescue, and East Pakistan was liberated. Thus, began the story of Bangladesh. In January 1972, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became Bangladesh’s first prime minister. The country faced challenges from pro-Pakistani Razakar forces. Many Urdu-speaking people, who supported Pakistan, fled, ending up in overcrowded refugee camps awaiting asylum in Pakistan and hundreds of thousands were killed. In 1973, Constitution established Bangladesh as a secular, parliamentary state. Initially, its UN membership efforts were blocked by China until 1974. In August 1975, Mujibur Rahman was assassinated and Maj. Gen. Ziaur Rahman took over in November 1975, later becoming president in 1977. But he was also assassinated in 1981. Lieutenant Gen. Hussein Mohammad Ershad then took control but his term ended in December 1990 after widespread protests. Following elections in 1991, Khaleda Zia of the BNP became prime minister. Her tenure faced challenges from opposition strikes. She resigned in 1996 amid election boycotts, leading to Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of the first PM of Bangladesh, coming to power. Hasina’s term was marked by frequent opposition boycotts. Despite progress in the relationship with India, economic improvements, and peace agreements, political tensions persisted. In 2001, Sheikh Hasina lost the elections, and conflict between the BNP and Awami League continued. In 2009, Sheikh Hasina got her seat back as the prime minister. And till Aug 5, 2024, she served as the head of the state. Since May 2024, Bangladesh witnessed extensive protest. Protests that saw extreme hatred towards Awami party and the root cause was quota system. So far, over 300 people have reportedly been killed amid widespread vandalism. All these disturbances and killings in these three nations are testament to the fact that a country with its base being hatred against others can’t develop. To sum up, political instability, foreign intervention in a country’s internal matters and radical & hateful attitude towards a particular community or nation can never help a nation develop and protect the interest of its people.
Published: Odishatv Bureau
Last updated: 09 August 2024, 11:46 AM IST