Islamabad: /DNA/ – ‘Whether it was a resurgence or a recognition of religion in international politics of South Asia, the politicization of religion per se was an existential threat to pluralist thoughts in society, say panelists at a webinar organized by the Institute of Regional Studies. On a prescriptive note, scholars from Germany, Australia, the US, and Pakistan called for a greater understanding of ‘others’ to seed religious tolerance in the region.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Christian Wagner, Senior Fellow at German Institute for International and Security Affairs, said that religion as a concept was inherently ambivalent, adding that, in South Asia particularly the nation-building processes more often have been oscillating between ethnicity and religion. Quoting Bangladesh’s example, Dr. Wagner argued that religion couldn’t bridge ethnic and linguistic differences between east and west, even though it was the founding pillar of Pakistan. Also argued that most of the wars in South Asia were mainly fought on territorial claims, adding that even in dispute settlements neither at national nor at the international level, religion was a negotiation leverage. Rulers, whether democratic or authoritarian, however, tended to instrumentalize religion to legitimatize their authority, he said adding that the outcome was disastrous as sometimes it backfired. The killings of Indra Gandhi and PM Bandra of Sri Lanka were the glaring examples, said Dr. Wagner. On religious political parties, he stated that despite large gatherings they could not get public support in terms of higher voter turnout, added that people generally tend to vote for non-religious parties especially in Pakistan. 

In line with Wagner’s thesis, Senator (r) Javed Jabbar argued that in Pakistan ‘neither any religious group had ever direct political power nor was there any prospect’. ‘The history of Pakistan was being portrayed in a distorted way’, he lamented. To argue, he apprised the audience about Jinnah’s unhappiness with Gandhi for bringing religion into politics. Further argued that international relations of Pakistan were conducted on fine lines of the international political system, for example, ‘our recognition of China, a communist state, our strategic relationship with the US and even with India until 5^th of August, was based on realpolitik. On the issue of Islamophobia, he said that ‘it was rooted in ignorance about Islam’. He regretted that ‘even highly educated advanced countries, have not been able to understand other religions with the respect they deserve’. He urged ‘for a far more intensive and sustained campaign by states and civil societies to alter how people perceive the role of religion’.

In contrast to Dr. Wagner and Senator (r) Jabbar, Professor Samina Yasmeen of the University of Western Australia, Perth presented an entirely different view. Her thesis was based on the assertion that there was an increasing acknowledgment of religion at the world level. Since religion was the very basis of the partition of the subcontinent, Pakistan was largely seen from this religious identity in regional and global politics’ she said. Further continued saying that particularly after the 1980s, ‘the government consciously used religion to mobilize country’s Islamic identity that resulted in the creation of ‘restricted narratives’. In the case of India, the process began in the 1990s wherein Hindutva, the Hindu identity started dominating thinking and practices that resulted in the creation of the notion of ‘others’, mostly the Muslims, at a higher level than Pakistan in which mob killing was seemed to be a new normal, where any change of religious identity was treated as ‘Love Jihad’, she added. On a prescriptive note, Prof. Yasmeen called for greater understandings of Islam and the way Muslims regard their beloved Prophet (PBUH). Muslims, on their part, also respect other religious communities, she emphasized.

Speaking on the subject, Michael Kugelman, Senior Associate for South Asia at the Woodrow Wilson Center, said that religion particularly in India under the current BJP government has turned out ‘far more muscular’ than previous BJP terms. In Nepal, ‘Some opposition voices in Nepal were calling for the restoration of Nepal’s Hindu status, he said, adding that in Sri Lanka, several policies of the government in recent months appeared to be somewhat communal such as shutting down religious schools and banning Burqa (veils). In Bangladesh, he said that Ashadul Islam’s party has become increasingly vocal and active. Similarly, in Pakistan, religious parties were making inroads into politics, he added. These all together resulted in the sharp rise of regional communal tensions in South Asia. In the end, Mr. Kugelman stressed the need to promote religious tolerance in the region, which he thought, ‘was also one of the great global problems of our times and it could play out everywhere including in the US’.

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Saturday expressed the hope that India would act fairly during its month-long tenure as the president of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

FO spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, while responding to a query from Dawn, said Pakistan hopes that “India will abide by the relevant rules and norms governing the conduct of the Security Council Presidency”.

India, which is currently a non-permanent member of UNSC for a two-year term, would be holding the presidency of the powerful 15-nation body for the month of August beginning Sunday.

The presidency of UNSC rotates on a monthly basis following the English alphabetical order of the names of the member states. India, which entered UNSC on Jan 1, 2021, will twice get the presidency during its term ending on Dec 31, 2022.

CALLS FOR ABIDING BY RULES AND NORMS GOVERNING CONDUCT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

“As India assumes this role, we would also like to once again remind it of its legal obligation to implement the UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir,” the spokesman further said.

The timing of India’s presidency is important — although it is a mere coincidence that it has coincided with the second anniversary of annexation of Occupied Kashmir by India; and completion of withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.

Indian presidency means that Pakistan would not be able to seek any discussion on the situation in Occupied Kashmir in the Security Council on this occasion.

Spokesman Chaudhri had earlier at the weekly media briefing said: “5th August, 2021 would mark the completion of an unprecedented 24-month-long military siege and draconian curbs on the fundamental rights and freedoms of Kashmiri people in the aftermath of India’s illegal and unilateral actions.”

The Security Council has thrice discussed the issue of Jammu and Kashmir during the past two years.

Secondly, withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan is likely to be completed by the end of August. Indian presidency could become important in case of some major development related to Afghanistan.

Pakistan has always seen India as a spoiler for the efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.

However, the most important element of any country’s presidency is its ‘programme of work’ that lists its priorities during the one-month tenure.

India’s ‘programme of work’ shows that it will use its tenure to ‘needle’ regional rivals Pakistan and China.

The two flagship events planned by India are a briefing on counter-terrorism, and a debate on maritime security.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti, in an Op-Ed for Times of India, has written that India has been “a bulwark against any attempt to dilute the fight against terrorism and has helped in exposing those who aid, support and finance terrorists. Terrorism in our neighbourhood and beyond is of particular concern given the increasing use of AI, drones, blockchain technology, and online financing by terrorists”.

Given India’s proclivity to malign Pakistan at such forums, it is almost certain that it would use the counter-terrorism briefing for accusing its neighbour.

Similarly, the maritime security debate is expected to be used to criticise China’s role in South China Sea.

On maritime security, Tirumurti contends that “a comprehensive approach to maritime security is indispensable to safeguarding common prosperity as it protects legitimate activities and counters threats of current and emerging hostile, illegal or dangerous acts within the maritime domain. This encapsulates the PM’s vision of SAGAR — Security and Growth for All in the Region.”

APP adds: Meanwhile, Pakistan welcomed the letter by members of the European Parliament addressed to the president and vice president of the European Commission where they expressed concern over the human rights violations in India-held Kashmir.

FO Spokesperson Chaudhri in response to media queries said the letter was “another demonstration of the continuing global censure of the ongoing human rights violations and humanitarian crisis in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir”.

He said although India continuously peddled false propaganda in futile attempts to push the sham narrative of so-called normalcy in occupied Kashmir, the global censure and condemnation of the Indian atrocities in the valley continued.

He said India must realise that it cannot ignore the international community’s continuing calls to end its grave and systematic human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir.