Keeping friends close but enemies closer
Pakistan reneged on its promise because the enemy, who is disguised as an ally, exerted pressure.
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. PHOTO: REUTERS
Malaysia has been exporting its palm oil to India for many years. As a matter of fact, India was the third largest buyer of Malaysian palm oil. Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohammad, speaking at the UNGA, said India has “invaded and occupied” Kashmir, angering India and risking the palm oil trade. Standing by his critique of India, he said, “We speak our minds, and we don’t retract or change.” This month India has halted imports of palm oil from Malaysia. Mahathir has criticised India’s Citizenship Amendment Act, saying, “I am sorry to see that India, which claims to be a secular state now is taking action to deprive some Muslims of their citizenship,” calling the law “grossly unfair”.’
Mahathir is preferring morals over profits. Such a vivid moral behavior by nation-states is rarely seen, actually almost unheard of. The radical realist school of thought would be disappointed in Malaysia’s pursuit of ethics, instead of interests, in international relations. Reinhold Niebuhr and Hans Morgenthau would have us believe that the western society believes in ethics in international relations and that they are good case studies of what is called classical realism. Nothing can be further from the truth.
The western society has completely and stealthily divorced morals from international relations. I say stealthily because the West still likes to label their invasions and global assassination campaigns in a benign manner such as Responsibility to Protect (R2P), advancing women education, war on terror, and so forth.
Take for example Europe. The proponents of myths would argue that Europe stood with the US in achieving the Iran nuclear deal. The truth is that once President Trump withdrew from the deal, Europe didn’t have any power to keep the deal alive. It tried to give the Iranians some relief through barter system to circumvent the US sanctions but it wasn’t effective enough. After the killing of Gen Suleimani, Iran announced the end of the deal. Germany, France and England right away triggered the dispute resolution mechanism set in the deal. That means that there are 65 days from the day Iran announced the end of the deal in which an agreement would have to be reached. Otherwise, UNSC sanctions would be reimposed.
President Trump had secretly threatened Europe to trigger that mechanism; otherwise Trump was going to impose a 25% tariff on the import of European automobiles. Europe had to push Iran off the cliff in order to save itself. In contrast, a weaker and poorer Malaysia chose morals over profits.
Washington stands with the people of other nations when the regime is disobedient and with the regime when the people are obedient. Washington wouldn’t stand with Pakistan for Kashmir but would support the PTM which is challenging the state. Likewise, Europe cannot even think of giving asylum to someone like Edward Snowden, an American dissident and whistleblower, even though he exposed how the NSA was eavesdropping on Angela Merkel’s phone but would stand and march with Washington if the latter has the sadistic urge to go whack some sovereign nation it may or may not be able to find on a map.
Pakistan’s movers and shakers perhaps misread Mario Puzzo’s phrase “Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.” Perhaps they took its literal meaning; that one should keep one’s friends dear but enemies dearer. That is why we are foolishly embracing those who never supported our interests; who gave asylum to corrupt runaway politicians; who invested billions of dollars in India and gave them their highest civilian award “The Order of the Zayed,” despite India’s annexation of Kashmir. They chose profit over morality.
Pakistan ditched the Kuala Lumpur Summit organised mainly by Malaysia and Turkey. Pakistan reneged on its promise because the enemy, who is disguised as an ally, exerted pressure. If Pakistan has to read everything literally, it should read this: Keep your enemies close but friends closer.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2020.
Mahathir is preferring morals over profits. Such a vivid moral behavior by nation-states is rarely seen, actually almost unheard of. The radical realist school of thought would be disappointed in Malaysia’s pursuit of ethics, instead of interests, in international relations. Reinhold Niebuhr and Hans Morgenthau would have us believe that the western society believes in ethics in international relations and that they are good case studies of what is called classical realism. Nothing can be further from the truth.
The western society has completely and stealthily divorced morals from international relations. I say stealthily because the West still likes to label their invasions and global assassination campaigns in a benign manner such as Responsibility to Protect (R2P), advancing women education, war on terror, and so forth.
Take for example Europe. The proponents of myths would argue that Europe stood with the US in achieving the Iran nuclear deal. The truth is that once President Trump withdrew from the deal, Europe didn’t have any power to keep the deal alive. It tried to give the Iranians some relief through barter system to circumvent the US sanctions but it wasn’t effective enough. After the killing of Gen Suleimani, Iran announced the end of the deal. Germany, France and England right away triggered the dispute resolution mechanism set in the deal. That means that there are 65 days from the day Iran announced the end of the deal in which an agreement would have to be reached. Otherwise, UNSC sanctions would be reimposed.
President Trump had secretly threatened Europe to trigger that mechanism; otherwise Trump was going to impose a 25% tariff on the import of European automobiles. Europe had to push Iran off the cliff in order to save itself. In contrast, a weaker and poorer Malaysia chose morals over profits.
Washington stands with the people of other nations when the regime is disobedient and with the regime when the people are obedient. Washington wouldn’t stand with Pakistan for Kashmir but would support the PTM which is challenging the state. Likewise, Europe cannot even think of giving asylum to someone like Edward Snowden, an American dissident and whistleblower, even though he exposed how the NSA was eavesdropping on Angela Merkel’s phone but would stand and march with Washington if the latter has the sadistic urge to go whack some sovereign nation it may or may not be able to find on a map.
Pakistan’s movers and shakers perhaps misread Mario Puzzo’s phrase “Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.” Perhaps they took its literal meaning; that one should keep one’s friends dear but enemies dearer. That is why we are foolishly embracing those who never supported our interests; who gave asylum to corrupt runaway politicians; who invested billions of dollars in India and gave them their highest civilian award “The Order of the Zayed,” despite India’s annexation of Kashmir. They chose profit over morality.
Pakistan ditched the Kuala Lumpur Summit organised mainly by Malaysia and Turkey. Pakistan reneged on its promise because the enemy, who is disguised as an ally, exerted pressure. If Pakistan has to read everything literally, it should read this: Keep your enemies close but friends closer.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2020.