Qatar must cover its bets, protect the economic outlook and encourage India to reconsider its policy by proposing mediation on Kashmir, writes Farhan Chak.

While CBS’s flagship show 60 minutes, shortly after the unjust blockade of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim courageously contradicted allegations of support for “terror”.

It contains an important lesson on navigating troubled political waters. After all, this libelous charge was even reckless tweeted by President Trump.

Normally, that would have sounded the death knell. However, rather than panicking, Sheikh Tamim was honest. Without hesitation, when asked by host Charlie Rose about the presence of the Taliban and Hamas in Qatar, His Highness stated categorically “America asked. “

For a moment, everything fell silent. Charlie sat there, eyes wide and stunned.

Usually, the leaders of the Middle East, fearing to upset the United States, do not dare to respond with such frankness. They stumbled, begged or even laughed sheepishly. Fear would overwhelm them. Yet not now.

Sheikh Tamim said unequivocally that the United States has asked for support and Qatar has responded positively. It left Charlie and millions of viewers stunned. The consequence of which immediately turned the tale upside down.

In a fearless moment, all terrorism accusations against Qatar seemed specious. After all, how come America gives you a match and then starts yelling “fire”. Above all, by taking its positions, Qatar has affirmed its attachment to honesty, dialogue, mediation and transparency – all characteristics of Qatar’s foreign policy. Naturally, for these reasons, Qatar should consider offering mediation on Kashmir.

Consider this – at the heart of the Gulf rivalry is the clash over Palestine. For the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, normalization with Israel is the hope of goodwill. However, as scholars point out, the “the prospects for peace are bleak. “

Business and Politics: A Closer Look at Qatar-India Relations

In fact, deserting Palestine will contribute to greater internal instability by turning your own people against you. This is what Qatar refuses, as the third secretary of the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar at the UN Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani reiterated. To abandon Palestine is an unforgivable betrayal of their fundamental values.

So, too, with Kashmir.

To explain, the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir remains the longest unresolved conflict on the UN agenda. It is the most militarized space on the planet.

Worse, this international conflict involves Kashmir, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and China, and constitutes a nuclear flash point. Now the reputable NGO Eve of genocide issued two “genocide alerts” for Kashmir.

It is undoubtedly one of the “hottest” conflict zones in the world and threatens the vast geopolitical sphere of Qatar. Not only that, it is adjacent to Afghanistan, where Qatar is deeply invested. And, Qatar’s security / military relationship with Pakistan, trade with India, and the large South Asian diaspora in Qatar – furious at the targeted killings of Muslims in India, are forcing Qatar to get involved.

Therefore, Qatar needs to formulate a well thought out policy taking into account these five variables: (a) Indo-Israel Alliance; (b) Islamophobia in India; (c) Containment of Indo-American China; (d) A “Belt and Road” initiative; (e) Strategic vision.

First, India’s relationship with Israel puts it in direct conflict with all those who support Palestine. Certainly there are layers to understanding the Indo-Israel alliance, however Hindutva fascism in India is anchored with Israel.

Historically, India has played a different political role, giving lip service to the Palestinians and unaligned movement. Yet those days are over. From Hindutva right-wing fascists have joined forces with exploiting capitalists, a new Indo-Israeli regional order has emerged. Are particularly worrying Indians in the Israeli army, and deepening relations with the United Arab Emirates. The Indo-Israel-UAE link poses a direct threat to Qatar.

Second, the Electoral victory of the BJP in 2014, leads to distraction through demonization, popularity through victimization and power through deprivation of civil rights.

In fact, nowhere in the world is Islamophobia so dangerously evident as in India and Kashmir today. This includes discrimination against Muslims and other minorities, citizenship stripping millions of people, death threats muslim women and lynching of Muslims in broad daylight. And, in Kashmir, a whole different system of colonization and apartheid emerged.

All of this makes the blatant nature of Islamophobia in India a monstrosity. In fact, just a few days ago, Zia Mustafa – a Pakistani farmer from Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir who accidentally crossed the ceasefire line and was arrested by Indian forces was assassinated outside the prison compound. Qatar cannot condone the ongoing Islamophobia in India.

Third, India wholeheartedly jumped on the US bandwagon, exacerbating tensions along its borders with China and Pakistan. This has placed India in the front line against the two nations and wishes Qatar’s support.

India recklessly tries to “contain” China, even push the United States to war. This perilous policy involves an aggressive blockade of Chinese goods across the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean. Such a reckless strategy ignores the African proverb “when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers”.

Qatar should stay out of the escalating Sino-US entanglement and remain neutral. However, his growing divergence with India is sure to create a backlash, so he must wisely guarantee playing cards – Kashmir.

Fourth, Qatar signed a monumental 22-year LNG agreement with China, signifying the expansion of its global network.

It is important to note that Pakistan is the conduit for transporting its liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the China-Pakistan economic corridor, rightly described as a ‘game changer.’

“Cover your bets”

Qatar could partner with infrastructure development projects, such as Gwadar – a deep-water port in the Arabian Sea in Pakistan. This would expand Qatar’s geopolitical footprint, improve Qatar’s security, training and storage needs.

Of course, that would upset India, which already they viewing Chinese investments, Afghan involvement and relations with Pakistan with dread. In turn, India will embrace the UAE more.

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Qatar must cover its bets, protect the economic outlook and encourage India to reconsider its policy by offering mediation on Kashmir.

Finally, the leaders of Qatar, Turkey and Pakistan all share a strategic vision, with their policies focused on people, but also geopolitical threats. In the end, their tireless struggle, like every postcolonial society, is to facilitate representative governance that defends people. Their legitimacy is built on this. So, it is incomprehensible to abandon Palestine and Kashmir.

As Prime Minister Imran Khan stress that if Pakistan recognizes Israel at the expense of Palestinian rights, “we will also have to abandon Kashmir then”.

Of course, this will provoke a reaction, and like-minded nations must be vigilant.

Dr Farhan Chak is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Qatar.

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