Senate Defence Committee Chairman Mushahid Hussain Sayed has warned that the US invasion of Syria will further de-stabilise the Middle East and can spark a new cold war in South-West Asia.
“I urge the US and all countries to uphold the UN Charter and international law and defer the matter to the United Nations as the Middle East region cannot afford a new war,” Mushahid said.
He was speaking at China’s Tsinghua University which had invited him to Beijing to receive an award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Public Diplomacy’.
“Parliamentarians can play a positive role in promoting peace and shaping public opinion,” he said referring to the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee’s unanimous resolution passed on Tuesday to oppose attack on Syria.
Talking about Pakistan-China relationship, he said the relations between the two nations were now defined by three new realities.
“The first is the shift of the balance of economic and political power from the West to the East in the ‘Asian Century’, marked by China’s peaceful rise,” Mushahid said.
Secondly, a ‘Greater South Asia’ was emerging. “This includes not just the seven sub continental states; but also countries like China, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Iran, woven together with geo-economics promoting a new regionalism driven by energy and economy,” the senator said.
“However, the third reality is the ‘New Great Game’ which is now increasingly focused on containment and encirclement of China,” Mushahid said.
He said US planes were planned to be deployed in Australia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Trivandrum in southern India, according to an announcement by General Herbert Carlisle, Commander of the American Pacific Air Force Command on July 29, 2013.
“China poses no threat to any country but any new Cold War in the region may retard Asia’s rise,” he added.
Scholars, academics and former policy-makers from Pakistan’s top academic centres participated in the seminar, as well as five leading South Asian think tanks based in China.
Talking to The Express Tribune on his return from China, Senator Mushahid Hussain urged that think tanks, press and parliamentarians need to play a proactive role in this important ‘battle of ideas’ that is going on in the region.
In this regard, he referred to the efforts of the Pakistan-China Institute which, last month, co-hosted the first tripartite think tanks dialogue between China, Afghanistan and Pakistan in Beijing.
Next week, Senator Mushahid Hussain will lead a high-powered Senate delegation to Kabul for a four-day visit for the first defence and security dialogue between the parliaments of Pakistan and Afghanistan. This timing of this visit is important as it comes soon after the visit of the Afghan President Karzai to Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2013.
COMMENTS (11)
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@Rabbani: where does Pakistan stand in the superiority race of countries?What does china's being superior mean to an ordinary Pakistan when Pakistan is fast on its way to the other side of the spectrum?
@Rabbani , Yes China has a big one and thats why it wants to penitrate Pakistan up to Gawader port and you people are laid open before them . Any way how you came to know that India has smaller one . Out's are already entered up to Kabul and Baluchistan . it's size is so big that it will rupture your's . India and China are dealing each other on equal footing and developing relation for the peace in the region so don't bother about Indo- Chineese relation and their understanding on world affairs .
Unfortunately that is the plan, don't let Asia develop, don't let Europe to Asia railway materialize, don't let Chinese access to Middle East oil and stop BRICs from ending US & UK wrecking of nation states who don't bow to Washington Consensus anymore.
Mushahid seems to be working on Osama's agenda and trying to polarize the world opinion against the west .
Ooops. His mentioning India hasn't got down well with our neighbor. But Indians must show bigger heart and accept the facts that India WAS NEVER superior to China, India IS NOT superior to China, and India WILL NOT be superior to China. The sooner you accept it, the better for your country.
I think Mr. Mushahid you should focus on you own country issues and try to solved that. What had happen during your time it least the Pakistani Nation knows the bad critical of the Pakistan history that had brought decades long crisis and disasters until now. The one must keep his/her involvement with in his potential. What got Pakistan for the last 65 years being involved in world politics one should learn from. Hence don't play with public and media be in your capacity and that good.
As a result of the Syria crisis, the French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was primarily precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.
he is like andy flower (world class cricket in zimbabwe). world class analyst in party of chaudharys.
Sen Mushahid is a respectable fellow and the only sane voice in PML-Q.
@kala_bacha:
Isn't he the one who was shouting all the time "nuclear flash point" during Kargil fiasco, as Information minister? He is "Mr. Flash Point".
Now, he is hired by China to act as their "Propaganda Minister"?
Remind me who is he and which political party he belongs to?