New Delhi: Latest appeals by Pakistani leaders calling for Islamic solidarity in protection of Palestine and Iran have gained little traction throughout West Asia. Regardless of dramatic rhetoric, historic declarations and shared spiritual id, actual political unity continues to elude the Muslim world. Deep inside divisions, regional rivalries and competing alliances have left the Islamic bloc fractured – particularly because the Israel-Iran battle pushes the area nearer to a broader confrontation.
Again in 1974, through the second summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Lahore, Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had made a stirring plea – declaring Pakistan’s dedication to Islam and vowing assist for Muslim causes worldwide, even when it meant bloodshed. At the moment, most Arab nations had not recognised Israel, Iran had not undergone its Islamic revolution and regional alignments seemed very completely different.
Quick ahead to 2025, the scenario has drastically modified. A number of Arab international locations, together with Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan, have normalised ties with Israel. Iran and Saudi Arabia, long-time regional rivals, nonetheless eye one another warily regardless of current diplomatic breakthroughs. As soon as envisioned as a pressure for collective motion, now seems largely symbolic in conflicts involving Israel.
The present battle between Israel and Iran, now coming into its second week, has revealed the restrictions of any pan-Islamic response. Whereas Iran continues to launch missile and drone strikes in retaliation for Israeli assaults on its nuclear and army infrastructure, most Muslim-majority nations have responded with warning, if in any respect.
Pakistan’s protection minister not too long ago urged Muslim nations to unite towards Israeli aggression. Nevertheless, the response has been tepid. Inner fractures stay. Gulf nations, as an illustration, worry each Iran’s regional ambitions and Israel’s rising affect. Some host American army bases and depend on the US for protection assist. This limits their means and willingness to overtly oppose Tel Aviv.
A vocal critic of Israel, Turkey maintains diplomatic ties with it and has cooperated with the US prior to now. Even President Erdogan, who condemned Israel’s current actions and warned of catastrophic penalties, has walked a tightrope – navigating between nationalist rhetoric and realpolitik.
Specialists level out that spiritual id alone is just not sufficient to drive geopolitical unity. Speaking to BBC, former Indian ambassador Talmiz Ahmad mentioned that the rivalry between Iran and Israel is rooted in strategic competitors, not religion. Alignments in West Asia, he mentioned, are based mostly extra on nationwide curiosity than any spiritual solidarity.
He added that Pakistan’s renewed requires Islamic unity stem partly from its geopolitical repositioning. After years of strategic alignment with the US, Pakistan is now in search of to strengthen its ties with Turkey and Iran. Nonetheless, the army, political and financial constraints of those alliances restrict how far they will go in confronting Israel or the US.
In the meantime, the Palestinian subject, usually cited as a unifying trigger, not serves that goal successfully. The bottom realities in Gaza and the West Financial institution have modified. Preoccupied with home challenges and cautious of regional instability, Arab states have shifted priorities.
With Iran going through growing isolation, and Israel’s army marketing campaign displaying no indicators of slowing down, issues are mounting over what a weakened Tehran would possibly imply for the regional steadiness of energy. Analysts argue that if Iran suffers a strategic defeat, it might mark a turning level in West Asia, additional empowering Israel and cementing U.S. affect throughout the Gulf.
Russian and Chinese language pursuits would even be impacted. Having already misplaced affect in Syria after Bashar al-Assad’s exit, Moscow faces the danger of being pushed out of West Asia solely. Beijing, closely reliant on Gulf oil, might see itself extra beholden to American allies within the area.
Islamic unity, on this context, stays an elusive objective – undermined by long-standing rivalries, complicated alliances and shifting strategic pursuits. The battle between Israel and Iran could also be religiously charged in rhetoric, however on the bottom, it’s a geopolitical contest the place frequent religion is overshadowed by nationwide curiosity.