Page 7 - Pakistan Link - March 22, 2024

OPINION PAKISTAN LINK - MARCH 22, 2024 - P7
Faith in Action: Urgency for the

Gazans as Ramadan Approaches

revealed is when the Muslim global
community fasts from sunrise until
sunset – a time in which many Mus-
lims welcome the Holy month with
an abundance of prayers, familial
meals, laughs, and communal love.
Conversely, the people of Gaza will
be met with military bombardment,
if the war effort persists through
Ramadan. According to the Islamic
tradition, fasting is prescribed by Al-
lah (God) so that humankind learns NBC News
self-restraint by abandoning actions
that debase the human being. Among accompany the month of Ramadan President Biden desires reelection,
those are overindulgence in food and amongst Muslim communities. Fam- but that may require a change in the
drink, evil speech, lying, and back- ilies, left impoverished and unable to rhetoric and his actions regarding
biting. God says in the Holy Qur’an buy the necessary items such as food Palestine (albeit it may be too late for
Reuters in Surah Baqarah (Chapter 2, verse and clean water due to the occupa- even that). Thirteen percent of voters
183), “O you who believe, fasting tion, remarkably found the strength voted uncommitted in the Michigan
n By Hussayn Abdul-Qawi spared from the violence and destruc- is prescribed for you as it was pre- to celebrate and decorate in Gaza for primary, whose constituents have a
MPAC Research Fellow tion. scribed for those who were before the sake of their children. Moreover, sizable portion of Arab and Muslim
Israel’s response has been anything you, so that you may learn taqwa (pi- the article highlights how families Americans. The Muslim community
espite living under persistent but innocuous. Israeli Prime Minister ety).” Indeed, the piety of Palestinian found some semblance of the happi- within the United States and abroad
artillery bombardments, the Benjamin Netanyahu has declared observers of Ramadan amid their tri- ness that has been robbed from them. has expressed their frustrations re-
Dpeople of Gaza are teaching that restrictions will be placed on als is a lesson for humanity, for people These “few and far” in-between mo- garding Israel’s military operations.
the world a lesson in steadfastness. visitations to Masjid Al Aqsa in Je- who are starving will observe the fast, ments of joy will potentially become It is incumbent on every able Muslim
They continue to pray in rubble which rusalem, a spiritual refuge and com- some voluntary, others involuntary. nonexistent if Netanyahu’s commit- to aid those who are oppressed with
once was a house of worship. They are fort for Muslims. These restrictions Before October 7th, 1.2 million Ga- ment to accelerate the war effort in our wealth, our speech, our actions,
people whose mothers, daughters, continue into Ramadan, the holi- zans suffered from food insecurity. Gaza is actualized. In the face of re- and our prayers, especially during
sons, aunts, uncles, and entire gen- est month of the year for Muslims. Coupled with Israel’s blockade and lentless bombardment, the resilient the month of Ramadan. For Mus-
erations, have been wiped out of exis- While President Joe Biden claimed to control of what flows in and out of people of Gaza continue to stand un- lims in the United States and across
tence. Yet, in the face of unjust use of be working hard for a ceasefire before Gaza, whatever aid is received de- wavering, their hearts echoing with the globe, our supplication holds
military force, they remain steadfast. Ramadan, we have not seen the nec- pends on the discretion of the IDF, praises for God, a testament to their profound significance as an expres-
And it is most certainly an unjust use essary steps taken to do so except for effectively starving the population. indomitable spirit and steadfast faith sion of our solidarity, compassion,
of force. According to Al Jazeera, at meager amounts of drops of aid pack- In 2023, an article from The New amid the harshest adversities im- and a deep commitment to justice.
least 30,878 Palestinians have been ages via parachutes, unable to guar- Arab, “Despite fears of war, Gaza posed upon them by Israel. The power of du’aa (supplication)
killed since the escalations of violence antee safe distribution in an area raft lights up to welcome Ramadan,” ex- Urgency is required from the US transcends borders and sociopolitical
that occurred on October 7th, with with warfare. plores the experience of a family administration, the Muslim global circumstances and connects believers
at least 12,300 being children. Nei- Ramadan is already upon us. The whose youth have been deprived of community, and anyone who has in a shared spiritual endeavor. In the
ther hospitals nor schools have been month in which the Holy Qur’an was celebrating the rituals that usually foundational solid moral principles. (Continued on page 23)

n By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza gagement could be ruffling feathers in
University of Massachusetts Where Do Taliban-Pakistan Relations Stand Now? Pakistan’s military circles. However,
Amherst, USA there are no available easy choices.
With the Taliban continuing to
n March 11, Pakistan’s head cussed “matters of common interest” assert their undiluted position on
of mission in Kabul, Ubaid and ended in an agreement to “advance critical issues such as the Durand
Our Rehman Nizamani, trav- Pakistan-Afghanistan relations in all Line, and refusing to rein in the TTP,
eled to Kandahar for a meeting with mutually beneficial areas.” normalizing ties may prove to be a
Governor Mullah Ali A Taliban spokesperson, mean- huge challenge for Islamabad. For
Hanafi (also known while, said that the meeting was mostly their part, the Taliban are frustrated
as Muhammad Shirin about the clash between the Taliban by Afghan refugees continuing to
Akhund). The meet- and the Pakistan Army on the Durand return from Pakistan. While official
ing ended amicably, Line in Khost province on March 8 and efforts to forcibly deport them may
with Hanafi congratu- 9. Clashes had occurred after the Paki- have been stalled, continued harass-
lating the Pakistani stan Army carried out “sanitization op- ment is making their lives challeng-
envoy over the holding of elections. erations” killing 10 Tehreek-e-Taliban ing in Pakistan. According to the
This was the first statement by any Pakistan (TTP) cadres in the area. The Ministry of Refugees and Repatria-
Taliban leader on the recent elections Taliban object to the Pakistan Army’s tion Affairs, over 1,500 refugees re-
in Pakistan, a marker of the tense rela- military base in North Waziristan turned from Pakistan as of March
tions between the two countries. Province, abutting the contested Du- 2. Managing the growing number of
Hanafi, previously the deputy de- rand Line. Credit: Depositphotos returnees and caring for them has
fense minister of intelligence affairs, Following the clash, the Pakistan been a real struggle for the resource-
was appointed as Kandahar governor Army issued a statement asking the must continue to highlight and deal The Taliban Ministry of Foreign starved Taliban regime.
in April 2023. His proximity to Taliban interim Afghan government to ensure with its security concerns emerging Affairs spokesperson expressed “grati- Taliban-controlled Afghanistan has
leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada “effective border management on their from Afghanistan, it should not let the tude to India for its humanitarian assis- become an Achilles’ heel for Islamabad.
(and also close ties with the Taliban’s side of the border” and “fulfill its ob- relations with the Taliban dip any fur- tance” and sought to “strengthen polit- Multiple attempts to pressure the Is-
first leader, Mullah Omar), means that ligations and deny the use of Afghan ther. ical and economic relations with India lamic Emirate to cave in to Pakistan’s
his actions enjoy the blessings of the soil by terrorists for perpetuating acts A primary reason driving Islam- as an important actor in the region.” In demands have not succeeded. It is un-
Taliban top leadership. of terrorism against Pakistan.” The Tal- abad’s renewed policy may be India’s response, Singh was quoted saying that likely to be fruitful unless the new gov-
Hanafi also heads a joint commit- iban in its response dismissed the con- continuing moves to expand its deal- “India is interested in expanding po- ernment in Islamabad devises ways to
tee that occasionally holds meetings cerns as unfounded. ings with the Taliban. On March 7, an litical and economic cooperation with meaningfully engage with the Taliban
between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In Pakistan’s attempt to highlight the Indian delegation led by Joint Secre- Afghanistan and enhancing trade via and demonstrates some amount of
January 2024 he attended a border co- March 11 meeting in Kandahar as a tary J. P. Singh in the Ministry of Ex- Chabahar port [in Iran].” New Delhi is willingness to accommodate the latter’s
ordination meeting and met Pakistani move forward in bilateral relations ternal Affairs held extensive meetings seeking to regain its strategic space in concerns.
security officials and caretaker Foreign comes at a time when the new govern- with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Kabul, giving rise to speculations that (Dr Shanthie Mariet D’Souza is
Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani. ment in Islamabad is trying to mend Khan Muttaqi. The meetings explored it may allow Taliban-appointed diplo- a Fulbright-Nehru Visiting Chair
After the March 11 meeting in Kan- its frayed ties with the Afghan govern- expansion in bilateral Afghan-India re- mats to take charge of the Afghan em- in Public Policy at University of
dahar, the Pakistani media, quoting ment. There seems to be an emerging lations, especially economic and transit bassy in India soon. Massachusetts, Amherst, USA. –
Nizamani, stated that the two sides dis- consensus in Islamabad that while it matters. This deepening India-Taliban en- The Diplomat)
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