Musharraf speech implies closer ties between india and israel

Submitted by anIndian (United Kingdom), Sep 29, 2005 at 13:40

It is unfortunate that most indian interactors are consumed by tit-for-tat india-pakistan fight. As some have pointed out, the issue is really about Musharaff's credibility and long-term impact on pakistan and south asia.

It's irrelevant whether all indians are horrible racists consumed with hatred based on caste and religion or whether pakistan is absolutely the most backward muslim country in the world (actually the answer to the last question is Saudi Arabia, but anyways :-).

Musharraf has made a positive step by making it legitimate for pakistani goverment to discuss this issue. It also opens avenues for trade and other relationships between israel and pakistan. Pakistani society's bizarre hatred of jews/israel (bizarre because there is no historical ill will in South Asia between muslims and jews). will not change but there will be more normalcy at the goverment level.

A final and very positive consequence is that it further normalizes relations with India. Leaders of the indian muslim community have opposed strong ties with Israel (not indian muslims themselves) and Musharraf's step will have an impact on them. Basically, they have no grounds on which to base their objection: an islamist state in south asia is also willing to do business with Israel.

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".