peagle
Trusted Member
Thank you for this statement, and it does make a lot of sense. But as with most things in life, we're limited by our own exposure.
There exist very deep concerns amongst Pakistanis, including myself, but concerns are there to be mindful about, not shout from the rooftops every time something crosses your mind. There's such a thing as considered criticism, which includes not saying the quiet part out loud.
Perhaps Pakistan is there precisely because of the lack of trust between the Arab and the Ottoman worlds, sort of like a glue.
You have to understand few things about Pakistan and Pakistanis. We're obsessed with self criticism. I class it as pure self loathing, but let's go with self criticism. To outsiders Pakistani nation can come across as disunited. But Nothing could be further from the truth.
The core mindset of Pakistani state and society regarding international affairs are as follows.
1. Pan Islamic ideology, not in the sense of an Ummah, but collective existence would be a more precise description.
2. The second is in Urdu, but the nearest translation is We will not bow to anyone except Allah. It basically means if you want it, come and get it.
Another thing, there are two countries that live in the imagination of Pakistani society, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. Saudi for obvious reasons, but Turkiye is hard to explain, the bond is just there, it's like we're born with it.
There's also China which holds a place of love and respect but it's for different reasons, we have been there for each other.
I see people have space for Bangladesh in their hearts, but there's too much fog which desperately needs to be lifted.
I think, over time the Turkish state has realised that the EU carrot will forever be hanging. They will buy you the most expensive la-Z-boy chair in the world, open the doors so you can enjoy the view, but you will never be invited in. It's just not going to happen. No matter how secular you are, they will not accept 90 million Muslims inside the corridors of Europe.
"Former US President Bill Clinton disclosed that several European allies blocked efforts to lift the arms embargo on Bosnia because they saw an independent, Muslim-majority country as "unnatural" and preferred that the Bosnian Muslims die or be defeated."
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/12/14/remembering-dayton-the-accord-that-ended-bosnian-war
It was the joint efforts by Turkiye, Pakistan and Iran which played an import role in giving them capabilities to fight back. That's Pan Islamic in practice.
Similarly Bangladesh hasn't got a chance in hell of joining ASEAN, they might be willing to provide some benefits. That's it, but no entry. Another Muslim majority country with a total population of approaching 200 million with 160 plus million Muslims will completely disturb the balance in ASEAN. They will not allow that to happen. The sooner Bangladeshis realise the better.
I think Turkish state has seen the light, you can judge your society for yourself, although i think they're still waking up. Similarly Bangladeshi society is still sleep but the state has started to wake up, but they have to deal with historical baggage.
This coming from a life long atheist, since my teens, but you can't ignore the obvious. In the spirit of openness, i love this country of Britain, it has my complete loyalty, it's home. I see no reasons why my two identities would clash regarding any such organisation, I believe if it succeeds it will bring stability.
This pact, however it plays out is just a beginning. European Union started as a coal and steel community.
It's a start, give it time. There will be hiccups, it might even fail. But the foundation has been laid. The foundations for the United Nations were laid by the League of Nations, which failed but the lessons learnt from that were applied to the United Nations.
This might fail, it doesn't mean it will not offer lessons for the future. If it succeeds, all the better.
