INTERESTING, and indeed dangerous, developments are taking place in the region, and Pakistan will have to respond with alacrity and foresight to meet the challenges ahead. Arab countries are establishing fast friendships with the state of Israel — a country that Pakistan, along with others, does not recognise — while attempts are being made to strengthen the anti-Iran alliance under the American umbrella. The recent US-led International Maritime Exercise, a set of naval manoeuvres, this year saw some strange bedfellows, as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Israel were amongst the 60 countries that participated. While the UAE and Bahrain, which also took part, have recently experienced warm ties with Israel, Saudi Arabia has yet to recognise the Jewish state publicly, while Pakistan has also held back recognition as long as the Palestine question remains unresolved. It can easily be assumed that the naval exercise is part of a series of soft steps by the US and our Arab allies to push Pakistan closer to recognising Israel. As this paper has said before, this prospect should only be considered if the Palestinians are on board, more specifically if a just solution acceptable to the Arab side is reached. Otherwise, it would be akin to rewarding Israel for decades of brutal behaviour meted out to the Palestinians. Secondly, if this is an attempt to drag Pakistan into an anti-Iran alliance, this country must remain wary and stay away from any such misadventure.

The Israeli prime minister was recently in Bahrain on a ‘landmark’ visit, around the time the naval drills were happening, and Iran was on top of the agenda. Moreover, an Israeli naval officer will now be stationed in Bahrain, literally across the water from Iran. Pakistan must keep a safe distance from such dangerous brinksmanship and let it be known publicly that it will not be part of any anti-Iran coalition. If things get uglier in the region, Washington as well as the Gulf sheikhdoms may pressure Pakistan, but this country must stand firm and do what is in its best interest. Pakistan did the right thing by staying away from the ruinous Yemen war, despite immense pressure applied on it by Arab capitals. Seven years down the line, as that war shows no sign of ending, this country’s stand has been vindicated. Instead of joining any partisan alliances, Pakistan must maintain its neutrality, and try and bridge differences between Iran and the Arab states.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2022