Parvis musharraf
During the past few months, Pakistan as one of the members of the axis that the U.S. formed against terrorism after September 11th has become more active and put into effect new efforts in describing and redefining her position in the Islamic world.
Acting as host to the seven members of the Islamic conference – an event took place immediately after Mosharraf's Middle East tour - is a clear example of this.
The Pakistani president has been pursuing several goals during his recent activities, including the formation of a peace keeping force to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. However, this Sunni block may at the same time pursue other unofficial and unwritten goals within it's agenda. One of these is to challenge the growing power of the Shiites within the Middle East.
According to some regional analysts, this plan is a new corrected version of the one proposed by Saudi King Abdullah during the conference held between the heads of Arab states in Beirut in 2002.
In King Abdullha's plan, Israel will only be recognized when it leaves all Arab lands that were occupied during the six day war and agree to Qods (Jerusalem) to becoming the Palestinian Capital. However, during that period Israel refused to accept this plan and it was set aside.
According to Hamid Gul, the previous chief of Pakistani intelligence services, the U.S. with the help of Pakistan and Egypt is trying to alter the Abdullah plan and form a Sunni block that is willing to recognize Israel without any pre-conditions. The active phase of this plan actually began during Musharraf's Middle East trip. During a new conference held while he was in the United Arab Emirates, Musharraf said, "Israel is a reality and it is therefore better that she is recognized by the Islamic world."
These comments shocked Arab leaders to the extent that king Abdullha of Saudi Arabia announced during an interview that the Palestinian problem is an Arab issue and no one else may interfere.
Musharraf is attempting to place himself at the frontlines of Middle Eastern diplomacy at a time when George W. Bush is dealing with a very critical situation in Iraq and when at the same time his Middle-Eastern policy is facing serious criticism under the control and influence of the democrats in the U.S. congress. This is the reason that the White House is trying to play Musharraf like a winning card during the current critical situation and bring aboard Egypt in addition to other important regional players such as Saudi Arabia.
Although Saudi Arabia is dissatisfied with Pakistan's leading role within this strategy, it tries not to air its dissatisfaction as much as possible to keep her leading position within the Sunni Arab World. This is why the Saudi King personally greeted the Pakistani President when he traveled to Saudi Arabia. A happening that is seldom witnessed when foreign dignitaries travel to Riyadh.
Today, Washington is faced with a difficult question concerning Pakistan's role. The question that to what extent is Pakistan willing to toe the U.S. line when it comes to U.S. regional policy regarding applying pressure on Iran. Will Musharraf again be forced to put on his trapeze out of walking the thin line so that he will not lose favor in Washington and continue to be referred to as the "Brave Leader" in the Islamic world?
The reality is that a significant segment of the Pakistani Public opinion consider the United States' policies toward Pakistan a new page of Bush's scenario against the Islamic World and do not support it. However, indications are that the Bush administration is determined to test the weight and ability of Musharraf's government on bringing the needed pressures upon Iran.
On the first policy issue, Musharraf has been reasonably successful. The six members of Islamic Conference, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia and Jordan's positive relation and acceptance of Musharraf's invitation to Pakistan is a clear indication of this success.
Border insurgencies that are causing rifts between the local tribes are being supported by the White House.
Time will show how much Musharraf will succeed in playing the role that Washington expects of him. What is certain however is that Musharraf is not the only player in the scenario and the other six members of the group that had gathered in Islamabad are all seeking to play key roles in the region.