KARACHI, Sept 29: Former diplomats on Monday called for an assessment of the attitude of the West towards the Muslim world, especially after 9/11.

They also noted a paradigm shift in the Indian attitude in the post-9/11 situation.

They were speaking at the launching of two books — “Paradigms of conflict resolution in South Asia” and “The World after September 11: challenges and opportunities” — here on Monday.

Former foreign secretary Najamuddin Shaikh, while emphasizing the need for examining the situation, pointed to the paradigm shift in Indian policies in the post-9/11 situation, especially in the context of Kashmir.

He said that the Indians were now suggesting that if the issue of terrorism was finished, then they would talk to Pakistan about other issues. This meant that they were not prepared to discuss Kashmir at all. Mr Shaikh said that the Indians had no justification for keeping such a huge military presence in the occupied territory, especially when they themselves claimed that the armed resistance was small.

He also emphasized the need for examining developments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He agreed with a speaker that the present situation was a wake-up call for the Muslim world.

Former ambassador Shahid Amin said that in the post-9/11 world non-state actors were playing pivotal roles which was having a negative effect on the Muslim world.

He was of the view that the US had overreacted to the tragic event by resorting to unilateralism and doctrine of preemptive strike which had also undermined UN authority.

He said that the failure of addressing the root cause of terrorism and militancy had led to the marginalization of moderate forces in the Muslim world and the image of Islam had been hurt. He called upon the Muslim countries to think about such attitudes. He also called upon Western countries to refrain from blurring the distinction between freedom fighters and terrorists.

He said that the masses were the biggest sufferer of confrontation and added that war was no longer a meaningful option for resolving conflict.

Prof Moonis Ahmar of the department of International Relations, University of Karachi, said the books covered the issue of terrorism.

Examining the impact of 9/11 on South Asia, particularly on Indo-Pak relations, he said that Pakistan must formulate a policy in the backdrop of the events unfolding after September 11 by adopting a three-pronged approach.

Pakistan should continue the policy of offering meaningful talks to India despite the cold shoulder given by New Delhi so that the image of Pakistan at the international level which suffered heavily because of the so-called Jehadi groups was improved, he said.

He added that Pakistan must help the people of Afghanistan in their task of reconstruction and rebuilding because the previous policy pursued by Islamabad of playing off one Afghan group against another had resulted in ill-will and suspicion among the people of Afghanistan against Pakistan and the expansion of Indian influence in the country.

He also advised Islamabad against sending forces to Iraq under American pressure.