Pakistan’s Enduring Support for Palestine: A Historical Perspective

November 13, 2023

Here is the concise form of today’s Dawn e-paper article which is about the current crises held in Palestine. Here is the link to the parent article:

https://www.dawn.com/news/1788914/why-we-should-care

Introduction:
Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause has been a consistent feature of its foreign policy since its inception in 1947. Despite occasional hints at a shift, the core stance remains rooted in the unity of support for Palestine across political and cultural dimensions in Pakistan.

Pan-Islamic Nationalism and Cultural Affinities:
The bulk of Pakistani society’s allegiance to Palestine emanates from the ideals of pan-Islamic nationalism and shared religious and cultural ties with the Muslim population in Palestine. At its core, this support is driven by empathy for an oppressed Muslim community, paralleled by similar sentiments for the Kashmiri population, which holds greater political salience for Pakistan.

Two Parallel Trends in Solidarity:
Within the broader solidarity for Palestine, two parallel trends have evolved over time. The first, dominant in contemporary Pakistan, is rooted in the politics of Islamist actors and their supporters, such as the Jamaat-i-Islami. For them, the struggle is framed as a religious one, often depicting it as a clash of civilizations against perceived enemies of Islam, including the West and Zionism. This perspective has gained prominence since the 1990s through various religious and social organizations, shaping the contemporary narrative around the Palestinian issue.

Historical Muslim Modernism:
A contrasting perspective can be traced back to the musings of the first generation of Urdu-language intellectuals and officials, particularly during the 1950s to the 1970s. Figures like Qudratullah Shahab and Mumtaz Mufti engaged in discussions about Muslim modernism, incorporating a touch of Muslim cultural identity into statecraft. An example is Shahab’s ‘secret mission’ on a fake Iranian passport to Israel, reflecting a nuanced approach that blended modern statecraft with a Muslim cultural touch. However, this form of Muslim modernism has waned over the years, gradually replaced by the civilizational views popularized by Islamist actors in the later decades.

Progressive Tradition of Solidarity:
Over the past seven decades, Pakistani leftists and progressives have maintained a distinct tradition of supporting the Palestinian cause. Notable figures like Fahmida Riaz, Kishwar Naheed, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, and Amjad Islam Amjad have expressed solidarity through Urdu-language publications. This tradition, unlike the dominant Islamist narrative, finds its basis not in religious ties but in universal humanism, democratic emancipation, and a collective struggle against imperialism and racial oppression in the Third World.

Zionism as Contemporary Colonialism:
The progressive interpretation positions Zionism as a contemporary agent of colonial occupation, drawing parallels with historical experiences of colonialism in the 19th and early 20th century. This nuanced perspective challenges the mainstream narrative, offering a broader understanding of the Palestinian struggle that goes beyond religious affiliations.

Enduring Presence of Progressive Views:
While the progressive interpretation may not enjoy the same widespread influence as the Islamist narrative, it persists in Pakistan. Activists, intellectuals, and civil society organizations with views diverging from the mainstream align themselves with the Palestinian cause, viewing it through a universalist lens. This resilience of progressive perspectives underscores the diversity of thought within Pakistani society.

Shared Concerns with Oppression and Injustice:
The shared solidarity among diverse segments of Pakistani society, despite varying understandings of the Palestinian struggle, reveals a deeper truth — a collective concern with oppression and injustice. Regardless of the ideological lens through which individuals interpret the conflict, the acknowledgment that the humiliation of any one person is a collective affront resonates strongly. This shared concern becomes a powerful lesson, fostering unity in the face of diverse perspectives.As Pakistanis collectively express concern for the injustice faced by Palestinians, it becomes imperative to leverage this shared empathy as a catalyst for addressing similar issues closer to home. The mass deportation of Afghans emerges as a poignant parallel, revealing systemic problems in the implementation of directives that infringe on human rights and legal entitlements.

Deportation Issues and Violations:
The mass deportation of Afghans from Pakistan raises several troubling issues. Individuals born in Pakistan, with a legal right to Pakistani citizenship, find themselves uprooted and sent to a foreign country. Others, who have spent their lives building a home in Pakistan, are summarily rounded up and forced to leave. In some cases, individuals are being deported despite having a legal r

ight of residence, and ethnicity (Pakhtun) is erroneously conflated with citizenship (Afghan). This drastic action, justified under the pretext of national security, lacks evidence suggesting any actual risk posed by refugees or their descendants.

Geostrategic Leverage and Human Cost:
The underlying motive behind these deportations appears to extend beyond national security concerns. It is a strategic maneuver aimed at gaining geostrategic leverage over a neighboring country and projecting the state’s ‘intent’ and ‘seriousness’ in a securitized environment. This maneuver, responding to domestic and regional political challenges, exacts a profound human cost, impacting a million lives.

Public Opinion and Empathy Deficit:
Gallup polling data reveals a concerning trend in public opinion, with over 80% of respondents supporting the government’s deportation orders for Afghans. This support, however, is not necessarily rooted in personal experiences but seems influenced by partisan allegiance to the government and fueled by media narratives and some political parties’

xenophobia. This stark contrast between expressing solidarity for a dispossessed population and endorsing policies that contribute to their displacement underscores an empathy deficit that needs urgent attention.

Humanitarian Principles and Cultural-Civilizational Lens:
Expressing solidarity with the dispossessed, especially those with no home to return to, aligns with humanitarian principles. This solidarity is a crucial step towards fostering a society that cares for its most vulnerable members. Moreover, for those who view the world through cultural-civilization terms, it is vital to recognize that the individuals being deported are also Muslims. This realization serves as a compelling reason to extend empathy and support, echoing the core lesson embedded in the Palestinian struggle.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, Pakistan’s enduring support for Palestine finds its roots in pan-Islamic nationalism, cultural affinities, and historical perspectives. While contemporary politics have amplified the religious dimension of this support, historical nuances, including early expressions of Muslim modernism, offer a broader understanding of Pakistan’s complex relationship with the Palestinian cause. The parallel between the Palestinian struggle and the mass deportation of Afghans in Pakistan offers a critical lesson in extending empathy beyond geopolitical boundaries. Addressing the human rights violations associated with deportation requires a collective commitment to humanitarian principles and a reassessment of public opinion influenced by partisan politics and media narratives. Just as Pakistanis rightly express support for the Palestinians, it is essential to internalize the core lesson of their struggle: the recognition that the humiliation of any one person is the humiliation of everyone.

Difficult Words with Meanings:

Pan-Islamic: Relating to or involving all Muslims.

Salience: The quality of being particularly noticeable or important.

Waned: Gradually decreased in intensity or influence.

Credit :Farhan Khan