America is ‘doing more’

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo announced putting Pakistan on the list of Countries of Particular Concern or CPC. These are the countries that indulge in or tolerate “systematic, ongoing, [and] egregious violations of religious freedom”. Pompeo said that even sanctions would be slapped on the list of countries because “the United States will not stand by as spectators in the face of such oppression”. This was a pressure tactic in the form of a veiled threat to Pakistan for its help in bringing the Taliban to the dialogue table. Pakistan has been helping America fight the war. Now, it is helping America end the war, but the sadistic urges compel Washington to ‘do more’.

Then a day later, Pompeo said some countries on the list wouldn’t be subjected to any sanctions. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia made it to that category, where they would enjoy being on the list without facing any sanctions. Pompeo wrapped this move in national security. The label pretty much no American can question. So, we will take Pompeo at his word that America’s national security interest is in not putting sanctions on Pakistan and for America to “stand by as spectators in the face of such [violations of religious freedom] oppression”. And America would stay away from its values because bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table trumps protecting religious freedom. If I can infer one more time, America’s national security interests are best safeguarded by having a “country of particular concern” pave the way for negotiating with the terrorists. Washington wants to fuel the peace efforts with threats. Old habits die hard.

One of Secretary Pompeo’s statements regarding the CPC and related sanctions is quite revealing. He said, “In far too many places across the globe, individuals continue to face harassment, arrests or even death for simply living their lives in accordance with their beliefs.” A few countries absolutely fit that description. In India, Muslims, Sikhs and even lower-caste Hindus face discrimination. Prime Minister Modi allowed the murder of over 1,000 people, a huge majority of which were Muslims, in the state of Gujrat when he was the chief minister there, because he wanted the Muslim community to be taught a lesson. Does that Muslim community count as “individuals [that] continue to face harassment, arrests or even death for simply living their lives in accordance with their beliefs?” And that is just one example. India is on a modest Tier 2 watchlist.

Israel has turned Gaza into an open-air prison for the Palestinians. No other description can better explain the situation for the people living in Gaza. The Muslim citizens of Israel are treated as third-class citizens. Last year, the Justice Ministry’s Police investigation department decided not to open a criminal investigation looking into the policemen involved in the death of Umm al Hiran, resident of Yakub Abu al Kiyan. It was only because al Kiyan was an Arab. His family would want nothing less than justice. Does that pass as “individuals [that] continue to face harassment, arrests or even death for simply living their lives in accordance with their beliefs?”

During his election campaign, Benjamin Netanyahu, in his last-ditch effort at rallying his support, said, “The right-wing government is in danger. Arab voters are heading to the polling stations in droves. Left-wing NGOs are bringing them in buses.” The threat alluded to was from Arab voters. Two weeks ago, his son Yair Netanyahu said that peace in Israel could be achieved if all Muslims left Israel. Twenty-one per cent of Israel’s population is of Palestinian heritage. Israel is not on the CPC list because that does not pass Pompeo’s test. The labels of nice-sounding words like “religious freedom” and “not stand by as spectators” are merely for public consumption. This is power play.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2018.

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