1-15 March 2012        8-23 Rabiul Akhar 1433 Hijri

Note: Using editorials as an indicator, this series presents views, understanding and attitude of the Urdu periodicals in India towards various developments concerning the Middle East. The selection of an item does not mean the endorsement or concurrence with their accuracy or views. Editor, MEI@ND
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Roznama Rashtriya Sahara (National Sahara Daily), Delhi
Editorial, 2 March 2012, Friday
1. Israeli Leaders are Frightened
It was reported in these columns some time back that the intelligence agencies in a report submitted to the US administration have said that Iranian nuclear programme is aimed towards peaceful use and not for the development of nuclear weapons. It was also mentioned that it is unlikely that Iran will pursue nuclear weapons in the near future. The report also pointed out that Iran has no intention of invading Israel. This newspaper had reported it with reference to some US officials but now the same has been reported in various national and international media. This renders the babbling on the part of Israel completely meaningless. Perhaps Israel was not ready for such a disclosure. The Israeli propaganda about the Iranian nuclear programme stands exposed with this report. Even though some countries were influenced by the Israeli propaganda, a large number of Asian and African countries were suspicious of Israeli designs. Russia, China and India have maintained since the beginning that they do not think that Iran is developing nuclear weapons. India made a mistake by voting against Iran in order to achieve a nuclear deal with the US. However, India has reviewed its stand since and has realized that it is important to maintain good relations with its neighbours. Thus, India has refused to budge under American pressure to stop oil imports from Iran. Russia and China have already refused to toe the American line. Israel, true to its colours, made a different move once it realized that the earlier moves against Iran had failed. It accused Hezbollah and Iran of indulging in terrorist activities. However, this was such a foolish plan that it could not be sold even to the US. An important point in this regard is very scarcely known because it was completely suppressed by the Indian intelligence agencies. It is well established that Indian intelligence agencies have elements that are sympathetic towards Israel. Israel also keeps on massaging their ego from time to time. There are such elements in the Maharashtra police as well. It was news regarding the arrest of an Israeli citizen at Mumbai airport, some weeks before the attack on the Israeli diplomat in New Delhi, who was carrying materials used for making explosives. The man had received these materials in Mumbai itself and did not procure them from Israel. This shows that Israel has terror networks in India, which is a dangerous indication. While the news was prevented from coming into media reportage, Israel nonetheless realized that this move had also failed. Now it has started another tirade against Iran saying that it does not require American orders to attack Iran. Any attack on Iran would not be easy, as it would need a huge military build-up, which could lead to severe consequences for Arab leaders. Further, Israel may not be able to sustain the retaliatory action by Iran and its allies in the region. It is also said that the Jewish lobby in the US is also against any unilateral action by Israel and it is very unlikely that the US will involve itself in any war in the immediate future. If Obama secures a second term it would not be a good news for Israel because he will be able to do whatever he was not able to in the first term. Looking at the situation the Israeli leadership seems to be frightened.
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Roznama Rashtriya Sahara (National Sahara Daily), Delhi
Editorial, 4 March 2012, Sunday
2. We need a new vision for West Asia
India’s West Asia policy after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi has been a story of neglect and lack of vision. The periods of Narasimha Rao and Atal Behari Vajpayee were the worst. An important reason for this was India’s lack of interest in NAM. Nehru was a pioneer of the NAM movement together with his peers Sukarno of Indonesia, Marshal Tito of Yugoslavia and Nasser of Egypt. NAM played an important balancing act during the Cold War. The US looked at it as an inclination towards the Soviet Union. The collapse of the USSR led to the decline of the movement; India tried to get closer to the US and lost some of its traditional friends in the process. Subsequently, Palestine and the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was ignored during Narasimha Rao’s Prime Ministership. Israel became more favoured and friendship with only those Arab countries was nurtured where India had some interest. Thus, India had good relations with Saudi Arabia owing to its energy needs and remittances. Egypt became a peripheral country in India’s policy. Hosni Mubarak had a good rapport because he was a great friend of the US and Israel. A large section of the Indian media was very fond of the Camp David agreements. However, a section of the leadership in India is also quite amused by the recent developments in Egypt like the US and Israel. The Arab Spring has not come to an end yet, even though things look quiet now, but the process of change, which it started, has rattled the Arab leaders. Democratic reforms have become inevitable in the Arab world. India, thankfully, has taken notice of the emerging scenario in Egypt. It may be a poor country but its centrality to the Arab world is well known. It is important not just for having the largest Arab country with respect to its population but has geo-strategic importance due to the Suez Canal. Its importance to the Muslim world is also well known particularly due to the Al-Azhar University. A democratic Egypt will again prove to be a heavyweight in the Arab world as it was during Nasser’s period. Indian Minister of External Affairs is on a visit of Egypt to explore better relations with Egypt. His recent visit to Israel proved completely useless but the visit to Egypt could certainly be fruitful going by India’s old relations with it. The need is to have a relook at India’s relations with the Arab world and take it back to the historic level of friendship. The view that the Arab world is politically backward is politically and economically harmful.
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The Etemaad Urdu Daily (The Confidence Urdu Daily), Hyderabad
Editorial, 6 March 2012, Tuesday
3. The Madness to Attack Iran
The US-Israel rancour against Iran may push South Asia into a war. The US has imposed sanctions on Iran to block its nuclear programme. European countries too have imposed economic sanctions on Iran. It has led to tensions in the region. Iran has also increased its rhetoric in response to the threats from the US and Israel. The situation would not have worsened to this level if diplomatic means had been pursued. Israel has also increased its rhetoric of launching a unilateral war against Iran. The Israeli Prime Minister is in Washington to pressurize Obama to take a tougher stand against Iran. Israel understands that economic sanctions have failed to stop Iran from pursuing nuclear weaponization. The Iranian nuclear programme has been a target of much abuse though Iran has maintained that it is entirely for peaceful purposes. It is also a signatory to the NPT. It is a matter of great concern for the world that if the US and Israel have the right to own nuclear weapons, why not any other country as well? Iran has still not declared its intention to pursue nuclear weapons, then, why are the Western nations so concerned about it?

As far as the US is concerned, it claims to be the lone super power in the world and is biased against Iran. Israel is an American ally while Iran has never toed the American line. If the US acts against Iran it will lead to polarization in the world. The US cannot utter a word against Israel’s nuclear weapons. If the US as the global policeman wants Iran to stop its nuclear programme, then, the Israeli nuclear arsenal should also be destroyed. Iran is developing its nuclear capabilities for peaceful purposes, which is allowed under the NPT. If Israel tries to attack Iran because of the rhetoric by the Iranian President, it would be foolish. Further, Israel has no business in reacting to the Iranian President’s jibes as it has occupied Palestinian lands thus, snatching their nation. It is expected that American leadership will make Netanyahu realize that it would not be wise to push the world into a war. The US will have to think about the consequences of any pre-emptive war on Iran. But the Jewish lobby in the US is so strong that it would be difficult for Obama to defer any attack on Iran. However, it would be difficult for the US to go into another war in the Middle East after the disastrous consequences of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
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The Siasat Daily (The Politics Daily), Hyderabad
Editorial, 6 March 2012, Tuesday
4. Indo-Egyptian Relations
Egypt would need to improve its ties with countries like India, China and its neighbouring African countries after its changed political scenario. India and Egypt are traditional friends. President Mubarak had tried to improve ties with India. India has always maintained good relations with Egypt. The 3-day visit of the Minister for External Affairs S M Krishna is also an effort in the same direction. Krishna met with the new leadership of Egypt and signed agreements to improve economic and trade relations. But India needs to analyze the emerging situation in Egypt. The process of change in Egypt will take time and it may also include major political and economic change. Krishna also invited his Egyptian counterpart to visit India. Egypt seems to have taken India’s initiatives with open arms. Krishna also met with the Chairman of the Egyptian Military Council, which is currently ruling the country. The Egyptian leadership shall work for improvement of ties with India, which is rooted in the friendship between Nehru and Nasser. The people of India and Egypt also have immense goodwill towards each other. Egypt has always played a leadership role in the Arab world and Tahrir Square and the spread of Arab protests has further reinforced its centrality. It is expected that India and Egypt will boost their diplomatic and trade relations in the coming years. India will also need to deal with the new political reality in Egypt that is the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood. Its political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party has maintained that it will work for improvement in bilateral relations with friendly countries. India will need to improve its diplomatic presence in Egypt. Krishna also expressed India’s gratitude towards the Egyptian interim rulers who helped India in rescuing 3,000 Indians from Libya. This is the first high level meeting between India and Egypt after the exit of Mubarak and it provides an opportunity to give a new impetus to Indo-Egyptian ties.
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The Etemaad Urdu Daily (The Confidence Urdu Daily), Hyderabad
Editorial, 10 March 2012, Saturday
5. Iran: Negotiations are the only solution
The US and the world at large understands that it would not be easy to attack Iran. It is another matter that Israel is strongly in favour of attacking Iran. The Israeli Prime Minister recently visited the US to seek its consent for conducting a pre-emptive attack on Iran. Israel, since it came into existence in 1948, has made several ‘pre-emptive’ attacks on its opponents. It had destroyed the Iraqi and Syrian nuclear reactors in 1981 and 2007 respectively, but it did not lead to a war. Israel is currently debating an attack on Iran but it would not be easy and if it leads to a war, then according to a famous American columnist, Iran would put all its resources into achieving nuclear weaponization. It is only the US, which can take the responsibility to prevent a nuclear war in the region.

The US understands that in case Iran pursues nuclear weapon then other countries in the region will also try to achieve nuclear capabilities. The US administration has devised a concrete policy to halt Iranian nuclear programme and seeks a political solution. The recent intelligence report that Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons has given some respite to the US. It is a good sign that the six world powers and Iran have agreed to come to the negotiating table.

Netanyahu has had to come back from the US empty handed but Israel believes that the US will not abandon Israel despite tensions in their relations. The upcoming talks between Iran and the world powers will give some respite to Israeli leaders of pressure from ultra-conservative elements in Israel. There are several groups in Israel who believe that the Iranian system is based on rationality. A former intelligence chief in Israel in an interview to American news channels said that he thinks that the Iranian government is reviewing its strategy regarding its nuclear programme and they would not be foolish enough to invite trouble in the form of external aggression.

The current Israeli government seems to be impatient with respect to the Iranian nuclear programme and it would be a major mistake if it takes a hasty decision. The US and other countries realize the ill effects of attacking Iran and that is why they are exploring a diplomatic and political solution to the problem. An attack on Iran will lead to disastrous consequences for the world economy and peace in the region. It will also risk Israel’s security. The US is very much aware that Iran has the right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology being a signatory to the NPT.
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Roznama Sahafat (Journalism Daily), Delhi
Editorial, 12 March 2012, Monday
6. Kazmi’s Arrest a Sinister Act
The arrest of Urdu journalist Syed Ahmad Kazmi is a sinister act by the Delhi Police Special Cell. He has been accused of being involved in the bomb attack on the Israeli diplomat on 13 February in New Delhi. The Israeli diplomatic mission has blamed the responsibility of attack on Iran. Any person who dares to express his opinion against Israel or the Zionists is a friend of Iran. The US and the West is supporting Israel because Iran has openly opposed Israeli expansionist policies and anarchy and has refused to bow down to US might. That is why the 'crusadist' governments are up against Iran and want to destroy it after Iraq and Libya. They have imposed economic sanctions on Iran because Iran is a fast developing country with a proper utilization of its oil and gas resources. It is marching ahead in different fields including science and technology. The Israeli intelligence is famous for eliminating journalists and intellectuals who raise their differences with the Zionist entity. Another famous Urdu journalist was arrested for raising his voice against Israel by Mumbai police three-four years back and now another famous journalist Syed Ahmad Kazmi has been arrested because he has made several visits to Iran and has Iranian sources. Kazmi has worked with several national and international news organizations. He covered the Iraq war for Doordarshan. He has perhaps been arrested on indication by the Israeli embassy. It is quite surprising that the Press Council Chairman Justice (Rted.) Markandey Katju has not said anything about the arrest of Kazmi. It is a matter of great concern that in a democracy like India, a journalist is being targeted for expressing his views.
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The Siasat Daily (The Politics Daily), Hyderabad
Editorial, 13 March 2012, Tuesday
7. Kofi Annan in Syria
The visit of Kofi Annan has failed to yield any result. It would be very difficult to resolve any problem if one side starts to dictate terms. Kofi Annan’s visit was more to pressurize the Syrian President rather than finding a solution. Earlier Arab League missions to Syria have also failed. The UN has become a puppet in the hands of few powers. It would be very difficult to find any solution in Syria until the extremist elements in Syria are forced to surrender arms. The Bashar government is also using blind force to curb protests and has refused to respond to the genuine grievances of the people. Thousands of people have been killed by the Syrian security forces. The international effort to pressurize Bashar al-Assad to step down rather than find a political solution has also not helped the matter. Kofi Annan is a reputed international diplomat but he has also failed in getting assurances from Syrian leadership to stop the killing of civilians. Syrian cities have been turned into military camps. If Bashar al-Assad does not stop the killing of people and make way for political reform then it would not be long before he will be forcefully removed from power either through international intervention or by the rebel forces. The Syrian leader should know that he cannot build his legitimacy on the bodies of civilians. By killing his own people, he is providing the international powers an opportunity to intervene in the internal matter of Syria. Kofi Annan has also failed in providing an honest and just solution to the problem, which shows that he was not working with enough freedom and had a very limited mandate to put pressure on Bashar al-Assad just to show the world that the Western powers have made enough of a diplomatic effort before attacking Syria. The Syrian leaders have already made it clear that they would not compromise with the terrorists and that the opposition will have to come to the negotiating table and that armed rebellion would not be acceptable. Bashar al-Assad is also wrong in terming his own people who are demanding political reforms as terrorists. Both sides, the government and the rebels, should understand that no solution could be achieved through killings. The UN needs to take stock of the situation in Syria objectively and not act as a stooge of the West. Ban Ki-moon had great expectations from his special envoy Kofi Annan’s visit to Syria but the mission has failed miserably in finding any solution or persuading the Syrian leadership to stop the killing of people. It can also be said that the way adopted by the UN and Arab League envoy was not proper and was destined to fail; it immediately needs a review.
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Compiled and Translated by Md. Muddassir Quamar

Md. Muddassir Quamar is a Doctoral Candidate at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Email

As part of its editorial policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spelling and date formats to make the text uniformly accessible and stylistically consistent. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views/positions of the MEI@ND. Editor, MEI@ND: P R Kumaraswamy