Would India be a Threat to the Islamic Conference?

#81 MANTOLIVES

Well, I feel Pakistan, for its own sake, has to be supportive to the entire scheme of things. It ,or for that matter any single country, cannot dictate its terms due to its location, size or any reason , if the group has to be successful.

If we form a grouping based on economic interests, then bilateral political issues are to be set aside as far as common interests of the whole region/group are concerned. Pakistan has to prepare its mind in this regard.

But such a MidEast-South Asia-East Asia union is not going to come in a day or two. It will still take a long time.

Re: # 70

You are right sir: It was Saudi Arabia which was first to suggest that India be admitted to OIC and it was the Pak. dictator who threatened that it would quit the organization if India was admitted! It is nice to know that somebody remembers these things.
Salaam.

Dear Sanjay...

It is definitely an attractive idea... based on economic interest clearly... and having India in such a union would be an advantage. But it would not be allowed- look at the IPI Pipeline issue.

What we need to do is make oil and natural resource linkages... TAP and IPI pipelines are the litmus test... though the first one will definitely happen - as it has the backing of the Americans... Similarly- you guys need to stop instigating the sardars... because Gwadar as a deep sea port is an important first step in this grand global economic alliance based on Islamic solidarity that you propose.

The common thread of Islam passes through this region via Pakistan- which you are trying to look beyond... or is that something you are willing to reconsider?

-YLH

#79 MANTOLIVES

Dont you think that the region stretching from Middle-east to South asia and then stretching upto East Asia cannot have an economic union?? It would be much better than smaller unions like SAARC, BIMSTAC so on and so forth. This region has had historical contacts and also now a common thread of Islam passes through them. I dont feel anything wrong in taking advantage of the commonality of region as well as religion for the good of one and all.

The only thing is that Islam today is passing through a transition phase and everything will be all right when a few good old friends sit together again.

Islamdom, not Islamic World, is a thing of the past. Islamdom being the same as Chistiandom...

Individual nation states, with varying degrees of theocratic flavor and flirtation, will continue to allegiance to Islam ... Islam will remain a strong moral and civic force... in these nation states... but there will never be an Islamdom.

This is why there will be no Islamic Union... but regional unions based on economic interests, sometimes reinforced by common religious beliefs, some times common culture... but always economic interests...

Ultimately Humanity`s future lies in Nation States becoming the building blocks of the global confederation.

#77 MANTOLIVES

So do you think that Islamic World is on the verge of extinction or is already a history? I dont think so.

If you are right, you win--if I am right, I win.

Whats is the argument then?

And as far as international relations are concerned, yes they are a gamble. Today ,USA is putting its money on India and not on Pakistan--may be it turns out to be wrong after 50 years??Who knows?? Its a game of chance which has to be played anyhow.

Dear Sanjay..

Surely with Alexandar and others ... and others before him your ties with all these countries atleast 3000 years old... if not more.

This, unfortunately, is not what international affairs is based on. You sound like Mani Shankar Aiyar... and look where he is now..

#75

Dear Mantolives,

Our ties with the Arab world,China,Malaya,East Asia are since time immemorial--atleast period since Jesus Christ-thats what is believed on reciprocal basis.

With Europe they are about say 600 years old ,with USA/Canada since independence.

With Africa/South America/ Australia they are since independence.

Atleast thats what is perceived here.

Dear Sanjay...

What is your time frame... Nehruvian India? Historical ties? Pre-Islamic ties? I am curious about these historical friends... well anything that promotes amity and global peace.

India`s presence in OIC may just give the organisation a death blow. Every discussion- for instance a Conference on ``Reproductive Rights of same sex oriented sub-adolescent Muslim Women`` may end up with a long diatribe on TNT, India-Pak, Gandhi-Jinnah etc. The other Muslim countries may just quit OIC out of disgust.

Regards

#72

Dear Mantolives,

Frankly speaking we can never be friends because actually we are cousins and our sibling rivalry will never end.

We should learn to look beyond each other and if possible learn to live without each other just as real-life cousins in due course of time do.

This is the hard fact we must accept.

As far as OIC is concerned, for us it is a gathering of our old time historical friends and our joining it means joining our friends.

Dear Sanjay...

OIC is a confused muddled group of nation states ... they have nothing to do with Islam`s evolution.

If you honestly feel what you do- my suggestion is to work closely with Pakistan.. Pakistan as a nation state can be your economic and cultural partner in the future... It is a nation state with a Muslim bourgeoisie and you have a huge Muslim minority... and not only that but Pakistan has a magnificent ancient culture which is in part Hindu and which forms the bedrock of the Indus Civilisation- the primordial Pakistan so to speak.

Screw the Pan-Islamists... make friends with us.

MF Hussain`s initials are not good. Sania Mirza will have to do- in a Hijab and regular tennis attire...

We will send Meera though - because that is the calibre of the organisation.

#61

My point is not how many Muslim hands India has. My point is that India has been part of Islam`s natural evolution in the past and the as Indian Muslim population is significant, Islam will remain an important part of India in future. So it is in our best interest of India as well as Islam, that we are a member of OIC.

As far as Saudi blessings are concerned--it is not that Saudis have suddenly found a friend in India. If I am not mistaken, Saudi Arabia had proposed the name of India in 1969 when OIC was formed in Rabat. An Indian delegation had gone to Rabat for the signing ceremony but your great Yahya Khan sahib had put his foot done then. The Indian delegation returned back-much to embarassment of SA, it may be added.

If it has to be a Muslim there can be only two options:

MF Hussain -I think his beard is long enough
Sania Mirza- wrapped in a hijab

Regards

Dear Majumdar...

It is my understanding that even if such a condition does not exist, the convention is to send a Muslim... Ofcourse... I think Jamshed Marker was one Pakistani Christian who once represented Pakistan at this forum- I could be wrong.

Since India is going to enter into this avowedly religion-based Pan-Islamic organisation to drive home a point about its secularism (irony-just like Khilafat)... I would also imagine India would choose the biggest bearded Mullah from its Deobandi-Congress nexus ranks to represent it. Unless ofcourse ... Indian Union Muslim League`s E Ahamed- your external affairs junior minister- does the honors...