KARACHI, March 14: Security analysts have noted negative impact of the American unilateral initiatives in the war against terrorism, and urged the European Union to come out of the shadow of the USA and play its own role in defusing tension and resolving conflicts in South Asia and the Middle East.
This theme was advocated at a workshop on “Global imperatives for peace: the efforts of the European Union in the post-September 11-scenario.” The workshop was organized by the Area Study Centre for Europe (ASCE), University of Karachi, under the chairmanship of former ambassador Iqbal Akhund.
Mr Akhund referred to the issues on which the European Union and the USA had differing views such as President Bush’s controversial concept of “axis of evil:” Iran ,Iraq and Cuba, and the American legislation that would put restrictions on some of the European firms. He also referred to differences on the concept of a European force.
After the unilateral declaration of war on terrorism by the USA, he said, Israel’s Sharon and India’s Vajpayee were using the same language for justifying their actions against the Palestinians and the Kashmiris.
Emphasizing the need for taking a broader view of terrorism, he said terrorism was not confined to the Al-Qaeda alone, it could also be attributed to Basque “terrorists” and elsewhere. He was of the view that President Bush’s “axis of evil” was not a wise phrase to use.
The former ambassador said the European Union could play an important role in exerting restraining influence on the use of military power. The EU, he said, could be a moderating force.
“We are not sure that the treatment of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and in Cuba is going to be helpful in stamping out terrorism once and for all,” he emphasized.
Replying to a question with regard to India-Pakistan relations in the context of the Kashmir dispute, he claimed that the activities of the Jaish and the Lashkar had provided India with an opportunity to dub the otherwise indigenous struggle of the Kashmiri people as externally supported.
To expect outside powers to do something about Kashmir was a futile hope, he said in reply to a question why the USA or other Western nations were using their influence to compel India to come to the negotiating table.
Ambassador Mehdi Masood (retd) said the European Union had been continuously highlighting the desirability of a UN cover for major policy initiatives in Afghanistan, the need for achieving and maintaining a balance in the various structures being put in place in Afghanistan. He also referred to the need for achieving a consensus among major Afghan groups on the important political and constitutional milestones on the road to normalization and stabilization in Afghanistan.
He was of the view that elements reflected in the EU forums, official and unofficial, included the need for dialogue with the Islamic world, the need for resolution of the Palestinian question and the need to understand the root cause of terrorism.
Ambassador Masood said there had been open differences between EU states and the USA over Washington’s foreign policy towards the so-called “war against terrorism.” The USA, he said, appeared to be determined to lead, on its own terms, the military component of war against terrorism, to avoid the constraints which went with joint operations. The EU, he said, should seek a balance in its relations with the USA, to mitigate the latter’s approach of “unilateral multilateralism” on its terms.
Dr Syed Jaffer Ahmed, the Director of the Pakistan Study Centre, University of Karachi, discussed the evolution of the Kashmir conflict. He referred to inconsistencies inherent in the positions of the respective parties to the dispute.
Dr Talat A. Wizarat of the Department of International Relations said Israel’s inflexibility on the Jewish settlement issue had undermined the Middle East peace process.
Tehsin Nisar spoke on the post-Amsterdam treaty developments in the EU, and said the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU had been designated the second pillar in the three-pillar structure by the Maastricht Treaty.
Renowned columnist M. H. Askari moderated the programme. Earlier the Director of ASCE, Dr Naveed Ahmed Tahir, gave a resume of the academic pursuits at the centre.
