Task before OIC
By the Editor

OF-LATE, the Foreign Ministers of seven like-minded OIC member States have met in Islamabad – wherein – they discussed the situation in the Muslim world with focus on the Middle East scenario.

The prime task before the moot was to analyze the overall state of affairs and to formulate a common stand to face the challenges on account of Palestine, Kashmir, Iraq and Afghanistan.

As a matter of fact, the Foreign Ministers met in the backdrop of President Musharraf’s consultations with the leaders of the Muslim world for consensus on new initiatives to address the issues faced by the Ummah.

There is no doubt that the Muslim world is in turmoil and is going through a dark period of anguish and affliction due to the targeting and foreign occupations.

Going by realities, what surfaces is that the Muslims have – by and large – developed a defensive mindset due to frustration and hopelessness that has overtaken them over the decades.

President Musharraf’s consultations with the Muslim leadership were obviously meant to lift the Muslims out of their quagmire and seek resolution of the issues deemed as the root causes of tension, confrontation and conflict that had been taking the shape of extremism and terrorism.

The meeting of the Foreign Ministers that took place in this background was – by all means – crucial.

The eyes of the whole Muslim world were, obviously fixed on this moot with the hope that it will formulate consensus on the modus operandi of the new initiative that the OIC needs to take for the good of the Ummah as a whole.

In a way, it is a matter of satisfaction that the meeting took a pragmatic and judicious view of the ground realities and focal point on the way out to steer the Ummah out of the messy situation – it finds itself in today.

Yet, we would like to point-out that time is fast running out and the Muslim world cannot afford to be complacent or apathetic to the situation at hand – any more.

Virtually, it’s no time to indulge in traditional formalities. A grave responsibility – thus – devolves on the OIC as its recommendations are ought to be the basis of the new initiative that President Musharraf has been emphasizing upon to address the Palestine, Iraq and other Muslim issues.

Amid such a situation, we feel optimistic that, keeping in view the essence and spirit of the deliberations – which became climax of the interaction by the Foreign Ministers of the key Muslim states –the OIC as whole – will come out with some swift bold formula to lead to the end to the agony and sufferings of the Muslim world – which have prolonged – beyond one’s mind's eye.

We expect a solid strategy – in a way – whereby the resurgence of the highest image of Ummah is made sure, as the bona fide right of the Muslim world by all perceptions – and that too, based on equilibrium, dignity and honor as its hallmark.

And, in case the OIC doesn’t fulfill the fundamental requirements of its birth and charter – neither the historians shall absolve it – nor the Faithful, who as the firm believers of inter-faith harmony – desire global peace in the best interest of the humankind – even by taking the extremists and terrorists – to task.

Since, one can’t clap with one hand – we feel hopeful that every peace-loving nation, explicitly in the West would respond and reciprocate – in identical way – to save the new generations of the Earth planet – from all sorts of perils, which, by now have been swelling – at swift pace sans any justifiable or logical cause or reason.

Let there be no illusion on any account. The era of ‘might is right’ – doesn’t exist any more. It ended on the day – when Stone Age was transformed into the modern epoch – now known as the Civilized World.

With this view – while beaming a clear-cut message to the OIC – we are sure that the rest of the world would also try to understand the significance of amity and harmony – if at all it is serious and sincere to clutch the much-needed goals of affluence – not for any specific domain – but for the entire civilizations with equality – in all respects – as the basis of such a frame of mind.

Otherwise – the world shall stay camouflaged with risks and hazards – hovering all-around.●