PM Imran’s visit to Malaysia

Imran Khan seems to be juggling relations with the international community well. This week the prime minister visited Malaysia on a two-day official visit. This was his second visit since assuming office in August 2018. During the visit, both sides expressed commitment to build stronger ties in the area of defence, law enforcement, tourism and education. Several MoUs were signed pertaining to exchanges of prisoners and social security of Pakistani labour.

Prime Minister Imran Khan with his Malaysian counterpart, Mahathir Mohamad, in a joint press conference expressed regret over his non-participation in the Kuala Lumpur conference. Without hurting Saudi sentiment he appeased the Malaysians with grace. PM Imran said that an impression was created from the Kuala Lumpur conference that the Muslim Ummah would be divided but that was not the case. He also assured that he would attend the next Kuala Lumpur Conference.

The purpose of the KL Summit, held in Malaysia, was to find solutions to the problems faced by Muslim Ummah across the globe and to create awareness about the negative propaganda against Islam. The conference was to be attended by Pakistan, Malaysia, Turkey, Indonesia and Qatar but openly avoided by Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom was keen to make the summit a failure and even pressured Pakistan to not attend. The United Arab Emirates, a close ally of Saudia Arabia, also took a jibe at the KL Summit terming it ‘a waste of time’.

The two middle eastern Muslim nations, with vested interests in India, have failed to stand with the Muslim community being imprisoned in Indian held Kashmir. Despite the ongoing brutalities in the occupied valley, Saudi Arabia and UAE continue to increase trade links with India and even honoured Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a high civilian award. While Malaysia and Turkey regardless of their personal interests, persistently support Pakistan’s stance on liberating the people of Kashmir.

Mahathir Mohamad and Tayyab Erdogan are considered to be the two most influential Muslim leaders in the world. Afraid of losing its sway and place in the global world order, Saudi Arabia continues to create rifts between these Muslim nations; if Malaysia, Turkey and Pakistan succeed in building a new alliance together, the status of the Arabs will be lost. The grave burden of building bridges instead must be borne by Imran Khan.

Prime Minister Imran Khan is seen by the world as the peacekeeper who shall unify the Muslim Ummah. However, he must ensure the priority of Pakistan’s interests when continuing his efforts for the Muslim communities. We can no longer be sacrificial lambs in the name of greater good.