Iran and Palestine are not represented in the meet but it is said that they would be kept informed on its outcome.

Prior to the meet, Pakistani president General Musharraf had toured a number of Islamic countries including Iran. Non participation of Iran in the foreign ministers’ meet in Islamabad is an indication that General Musharraf undertook the mission of visiting several Islamic countries on the behest of Washington, which considers Pakistan a moderate Islamic state.

Washington think-tanks must be trying to use the lever of moderate Islamic states a la Pakistan for reducing tension in the Middle East and dissuading Iran from going nuclear. For some time, the news has been trickling down that Washington is not averse to the option of negotiating a compromise deal with Iran and the Islamic terrorists in general.

Inclusion of Saudi Arabia in and exclusion of Iran from Islamabad meet is also speaks of the nature of relationship Iran has with the Islamic and the Arab world. Teheran would not fail to question the credibility of Islamabad for floating a so-called peace mission. Of all the Islamic countries Pakistan is least qualified to propose a nuclear roll back to Iran.

What is actually surprising is that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are trying to project themselves as opposed to terrorist activities by the Islamist groups. The whole world knows that Pakistani religious extremist groups are the recruiting base of terrorism in the world and Saudi organizations like Al-Rabita are the main funding agencies for this terror. There is no concrete evidence that the Pakistani government is doing anything to liquidate the extremist groups and organizations and their networks world wide. Pakistan’s military action against the tribal warriors in Waziristan is a matter closely linked to Pakistan’s internal situation and has very little to do with Pakistan’s anti-terrorist operations. Islamabad’s ruling Punjabi harmonics are continuing similar action in Baluchistan against the Baluch nationalists and that too has nothing to do with Pakistan’s so - called fight against terror.

In the same way Saudi Arabian government has done nothing to impose severe restrictions on the funding mechanism of Saudi – based pro-fundamentalist organizations to the Islamic militant organizations world over. Muslims from Pakistan and other parts of the world working in Saudi Arabia are making enormous remittances to the terrorist outfits in South Asian countries and the Saudi government has not taken any effective measures to impose a ban on such remittances.

Therefore it is futile to expect any realistic and objective result from the foreign ministers’ meet in Islamabad. But of course it has publicity value for the organizers who will send plethora of clippings of its proceedings to their American benefactors to convince them that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are doing all they can to support the anti-terror campaign of the United States.

The opinion among well-informed and dispassionate commentators of contemporary geopolitical strategies in the Asian continent is that unless Americans deal effectively with the radical and extremist groups in Pakistan through the local authorities and unless they also choke the funding routes from Saudi Arabia, terrorism may not be contained. Rather it could escalate with the passage of time as we find in the case of re-grouping of Taliban in Afghanistan.

Washington needs to bring under focus the growing militant radicalism in Pakistan with a strong clout in Pak administration and in Army. These groups have a strong base among the electorate as well and are part of the ruling apparatus in the NWFP. More than military, political measures have to be worked out to reduce the influence and the space for activities of these groups. In particular, their networks abroad need to be brought under close surveillance and proper steps taken to cut short their ability to strike at their choice. Washington needs to reach the source of terrorism and not just go on striking at its peripheries. And if Washington is true in its intentions of promoting democratic norms everywhere in the world, Pakistan should not escape its notice.

Another point on the agenda of the foreign ministers was of unity among the Islamic countries. This, too, seems a moot issue. States have their political and economic interests. Commonality of religion is not a panacea for political and economic problems. Therefore the word unity has to be defined in precise terms.

Iran is accusing Pakistan for encouraging Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists to cross over to Iranian territory along Iran-Afghanistan border

Apart from this, Sunni-Shia’ divide in Islam is as old as Islam itself. The two sects have remained at loggerheads ever since. Sunni extremists Muslims in Pakistan demand that the government declare the Shia’ non-Muslims like the Ahmadis. Sectarian strife in Pakistan has taken a large toll of life and rapprochement between the two is no in sight. Iran – Saudi rivalry is centuries old and active. Late Ayatollah Khumeini had publicly declared that Islam rejected monarchy. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia was apprehensive of the Iranian commando force under Ayatollah called Pasdaran and had to galvanize the Wahhabis into action to counter the propaganda and activities of the Shia’s diehards.

Will the foreign ministers’ meet address this crucial question and find out a way for reconciliation? Iran has very openly hinted that Pakistan has adopted an anti-Iran policy to please and oblige her masters.

The author is the former Director of Centre of Central Asian Studies, Kashmir University, India.

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