Shillong, September 1: The escalating radicalization in the Muslim world, intensifying Sunni-Shia conflict in the Middle East, and historical religious divides impacting geopolitics are alarming trends for the democratic world.
On July 16, Muscat, Oman, witnessed a shocking ISIS-led suicide attack on a Shia congregation at Imam Ali Mosque, highlighting entrenched Sunni-Shia animosities. This attack signifies rising radicalization even in moderate Islamic states with friendly US ties.
The US-led "war on terror" post-9/11 has inadvertently consolidated Islamic radical forces. Despite eliminating leaders like Osama bin Laden and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, groups like the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and ISIS persist. Their historical grievances against Western colonizers, particularly the US, fuel ongoing hostility, extending to US allies like Saudi Arabia.
The fundamentalist Sunni-Shia divide sees further violent frictions, with Iran constructing a 300-km wall from Afghanistan signifying military importance. Recent ISIS attacks in Syria, Iran, and Russia, including a lethal assault on a Moscow concert hall, link back to Russia’s involvement in Syria and its strict handling of Muslims since the Chechen wars.
As geopolitical tensions rise, major players like Russia, Iran, and China find common ground against US sanctions. This geopolitical alignment was underscored by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s recent Moscow visit and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s US Congress address urging support against Hamas.
Moreover, NATO’s new Middle East and North Africa engagement strategy, marked by establishing a liaison office in Amman, Jordan, indicates a revived Cold War dynamic. Concurrently, ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas, coupled with Iran’s support for Hamas, aggravate regional tensions, especially following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
India, maintaining robust ties with Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Iran amidst these divides, continues to advocate for global peace. Balancing relationships with both the US and Russia, India aims to leverage its position within platforms like BRICS and the Quad to strengthen its global standing in a multipolar world.
Original Story https://theshillongtimes.com/2024/09/01/the-third-eye-conflict-ridden-middle-east-is-putting-global-peace-at-risk/
Category : INTERNATIONAL
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