Shadows of the Great Game
A series of depressing incidents including the killing of a tribal leader, Sardar Akbar Bugti has opened a new debate about the future direction of this region. Asia has been a focus of the geopolitics for centuries. The Great Game was used as a term to describe the struggle between Briton and Russia which were vying to colonize this region since Tsarist Russian Empire in early nineteenth century. Britons were kicked out of Asia after a successful freedom movement resulting in the creation of Pakistan. However, Russians under a communist regime, continued to colonize Muslim countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, in Central Asia.
Americans displaced Briton after its demise in the Second World War to start the New Great Game. Americans forged a close alliance with Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey during the Cold War to contain Russians. People of this region turned against Americans because of their support for dictators. A power vacuum was left after the demise of the King of Iran, Reza Shah Pahlavi because of a popular uprising under the leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini. Russians invaded Afghanistan to fill this power vacuum but their defeat in Afghanistan led them to free several Muslim countries colonized in Central Asia.
The Russian withdrawal from Central Asia has created another power vacuum. As a regional power, Pakistan is in an important position to fill this vacuum with the help of its cultural and historical links with Central Asia.
Meanwhile, China started to rise as an economic superpower. It will become the biggest economy of the world almost in a decade if it continues to grow at the current pace. Americans did not like the rise of China. They took advantage of the September 11 and surrounded China by invading Afghanistan. They also established bases in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Americans are trying to build an alliance against China in Asia with the help of Japan, Australia, and India. Chinese reacted to this alarming situation and signed various treaties with neighbouring countries such as Pakistan. China also accelerated the development of Gawadar port with the help of Pakistan as a wider strategy to counter the American influence in the region.
China is also trying to counter the American influence in Asia by building new alliances such as Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). It consists of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, while Iran, Mongolia, India, and Pakistan have an observer status. SCO asked the USA to set a timeline to withdraw its military from the region in 2005.
On the other hand, Americans are trying to intervene in the Middle East to control oil supplies vital for China’s growth. Meanwhile, Iran has emerged as a stronger player after Israel’s defeat in Lebanon by increasing its influence in the Middle East. The current situation in Balochistan can also be seen in the context of an American attack on Iran.
Central Asian countries and West China are closer to occasion through Pakistan. The new port of Gawadar is one of the best routes to import and export their goods. Indian economy is also growing rapidly and it is heavily dependent on Pakistan to import cheap energy. If Pakistan refuses to allow Indians to go through its territory then they will not be able to have a workable land link with the Middle East or Central Asia. Gawadar is under constant focus of global powers because of its strategic location.
It would be harder for Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, and Central Asian countries to negotiate with economic giants. European countries were facing the same problem and they formed the European Union (EU) to overcome this problem. However, the West does not like to see other races and regions to prosper. The West will try to twist the idea of collaboration among Asian Muslims as an attempt to revive caliphate. Its propaganda machine will use the usual themes of “war on terror” as an excuse to halt progress in Asia. It will also try to encourage its puppets to divide Asians on ethnic and sectarian lines.
Continuous hurdles are created to stop Turkey becoming a part of the EU. If Turkey joins the EU then it will have a huge impact on the Western policies because of its big population joining millions of Muslims already living in the EU. Muslims have to be integrated into regional organizations such as the EU to share economic benefits or they will be forced to form their own union. One-way or the other Muslims will share economic benefits around the world. The Western attempts to marginalize Muslims will eventually fail.
If Turkey is left out of the EU then it will have no choice but to join an Asian union. The union of Asian Muslims can be called caliphate in a cultural sense or an Asian union in a secular sense. The name does not make any difference. The main goal is the prosperity of Asian Muslims.
Anti-Asian forces are trying to destabilize Balochistan to harm Asian’s interests in the region. The best option for Pakistan is to try to resolve current situation by using political means to avoid further complications. It is obvious that the pace of development cannot be stopped and the people of Balochistan will be the primary beneficiary of this development. However, there is a need to explain this to Balochis so they can join the wave of development with enthusiasm. Once the suppressed masses of Balochistan feel the taste of an economic prosperity then no one will be able to turn the wheel of the time back to old days of suppression.
Americans displaced Briton after its demise in the Second World War to start the New Great Game. Americans forged a close alliance with Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey during the Cold War to contain Russians. People of this region turned against Americans because of their support for dictators. A power vacuum was left after the demise of the King of Iran, Reza Shah Pahlavi because of a popular uprising under the leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini. Russians invaded Afghanistan to fill this power vacuum but their defeat in Afghanistan led them to free several Muslim countries colonized in Central Asia.
The Russian withdrawal from Central Asia has created another power vacuum. As a regional power, Pakistan is in an important position to fill this vacuum with the help of its cultural and historical links with Central Asia.
Meanwhile, China started to rise as an economic superpower. It will become the biggest economy of the world almost in a decade if it continues to grow at the current pace. Americans did not like the rise of China. They took advantage of the September 11 and surrounded China by invading Afghanistan. They also established bases in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Americans are trying to build an alliance against China in Asia with the help of Japan, Australia, and India. Chinese reacted to this alarming situation and signed various treaties with neighbouring countries such as Pakistan. China also accelerated the development of Gawadar port with the help of Pakistan as a wider strategy to counter the American influence in the region.
China is also trying to counter the American influence in Asia by building new alliances such as Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). It consists of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, while Iran, Mongolia, India, and Pakistan have an observer status. SCO asked the USA to set a timeline to withdraw its military from the region in 2005.
On the other hand, Americans are trying to intervene in the Middle East to control oil supplies vital for China’s growth. Meanwhile, Iran has emerged as a stronger player after Israel’s defeat in Lebanon by increasing its influence in the Middle East. The current situation in Balochistan can also be seen in the context of an American attack on Iran.
Central Asian countries and West China are closer to occasion through Pakistan. The new port of Gawadar is one of the best routes to import and export their goods. Indian economy is also growing rapidly and it is heavily dependent on Pakistan to import cheap energy. If Pakistan refuses to allow Indians to go through its territory then they will not be able to have a workable land link with the Middle East or Central Asia. Gawadar is under constant focus of global powers because of its strategic location.
It would be harder for Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, and Central Asian countries to negotiate with economic giants. European countries were facing the same problem and they formed the European Union (EU) to overcome this problem. However, the West does not like to see other races and regions to prosper. The West will try to twist the idea of collaboration among Asian Muslims as an attempt to revive caliphate. Its propaganda machine will use the usual themes of “war on terror” as an excuse to halt progress in Asia. It will also try to encourage its puppets to divide Asians on ethnic and sectarian lines.
Continuous hurdles are created to stop Turkey becoming a part of the EU. If Turkey joins the EU then it will have a huge impact on the Western policies because of its big population joining millions of Muslims already living in the EU. Muslims have to be integrated into regional organizations such as the EU to share economic benefits or they will be forced to form their own union. One-way or the other Muslims will share economic benefits around the world. The Western attempts to marginalize Muslims will eventually fail.
If Turkey is left out of the EU then it will have no choice but to join an Asian union. The union of Asian Muslims can be called caliphate in a cultural sense or an Asian union in a secular sense. The name does not make any difference. The main goal is the prosperity of Asian Muslims.
Anti-Asian forces are trying to destabilize Balochistan to harm Asian’s interests in the region. The best option for Pakistan is to try to resolve current situation by using political means to avoid further complications. It is obvious that the pace of development cannot be stopped and the people of Balochistan will be the primary beneficiary of this development. However, there is a need to explain this to Balochis so they can join the wave of development with enthusiasm. Once the suppressed masses of Balochistan feel the taste of an economic prosperity then no one will be able to turn the wheel of the time back to old days of suppression.
posted by maakhter at
12:26 AM
8 Comments:
You write: "They took advantage of the September 11 and surrounded China by invading Afghanistan. They also established bases in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan."
The United States was attacked. We lost 3000 people. The group behind the attack was based in, supported by, and protected by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
Surely, you must understant that that was the reason why the US invaded Afghanistan.
By
Anonymous, at Saturday, September 16, 2006 8:41:00 PM
Hundreds of thousand innocent civilians have been killed by the USA because of its wider agenda to control the world after September 11.
You have to look at the invasion of Afghanistan in a historical context, Shadows of the Great Game in an attempt to explain that.
There are more than sixteen thousand murders in the USA every year. It has failed to protect its own citizens. Guns are easily available to killers in the USA. No one has tried to stop the availability of guns. Therefore, it is not the value of life that matters.
Trillions of dollars have been lost on the corporate sponsored wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The USA must be spending same amount of resources, which it has spent on these illegal wars, to protect its citizens murdered every year. But, this is not the case.
On the other hand, people of New Orleans are still waiting for suitable housing after hurricane Katrina.
There must be a better way to control violent people instead of waging illegal wars.
Muhammad Azeem Akhter
By
maakhter, at Sunday, September 17, 2006 2:02:00 AM
Muhammad
Hundreds of thousands? If you are using a plural of 'hundred' then you must mean 200,000 plus? That simply isn't true.
I was against the war in Iraq, for our actions in Afghanistan. but I don't see them as being corporate sponsored.
We aren't trying to 'control the world'. It serves no purpose, and if we did, it would not make sense to go after Iraq and Afghanistan.
Regarding murders, you are quite right, we have a major problem here.
By
Anonymous, at Thursday, September 21, 2006 7:22:00 AM
‘Poor planning, air strikes by coalition forces and a "climate of violence" have led to more than 100,000 extra deaths in Iraq, scientists claim.’
BBC reported almost two years ago on 29 October, 2004. If you include Afghanistan in that what would be the final number.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3962969.stm
The worldwide update of reported civilian deaths in the Iraq war and occupation.
Minimum 43269 Maximum 48046 Dead in Iraq
General Tommy Frank said, "we don't do body counts".
http://www.iraqbodycount.net/
By
maakhter, at Thursday, September 21, 2006 11:06:00 AM
As I look at the BBC article, I see 100,00...37,000, 15,000...14-16,000.
There is no consistency and to quote the highest figure is to doesn't do anyone justice.
Either way, the figures show too many tragic deaths. The situation there is horrendous and I fault both Bush Administration for horrible planning and religious extremists on both sides.
By
Anonymous, at Friday, September 22, 2006 8:03:00 AM
It is very sad that not much has been done to stop illegal wars started because of September 11. The so-called civilised world is quite on these deaths.
It is not a matter of how many have been killed. But, the question is, why they have been killed.
Killing of one person is enough to provoke protests.
By
maakhter, at Saturday, September 23, 2006 1:36:00 AM
I'm not pro-american but I agree with Jonathan, "surrounded China" is not the reason of invading Afghanistan of course.
By
Jean, at Wednesday, January 03, 2007 11:02:00 PM
America did not like the rise of China??? How in the world would China have ever gotten to where it is today had it not been for America? For many years, all we have seen here is "Made in China." I suppose we didn't want Germany, France, Japan, etc, to grow either, and that's why we helped them to rebuild their countries after WWII, right? LOL! And to say the US does not want the Muslim world to grow and prosper is about the most ignorant thing I have ever heard in my life. You obviously are not aware of how much money we give to Muslim countries such as Egypt, Turkey, etc. You must not be aware of how the US has begged countries such as Saudi Arabia to go thru the industrialized stage so they can finally become a prosperous nation. I could go on and on about this forever, but I am certain these facts will go in one ear and out the other because they do not go along with your propaganda. Propagandists hate for the truth and facts to get in their way.
Speaking of propaganda, this is one of the main reasons the Muslim countries could never become successful, important players in the world. They are so wrong about so many things b/c of their constant obvious need to never be able to face the truth about anything that has happened and anything that is happening in the world, which is why they have to drown themselves in propaganda; therefore, it is impossible for them ever to know the right direction to take concerning... well, any matter. So they could never become successful, prosperous countries and, therefore, becoming important players in the world instead of the losers they continue to be. If and when the Muslim world is ever capable of facing the truth, instead of falsely blaming everyone else in the world for their problems, they will then finally begin to move up in the world. You cannot fix a car, right, unless you admit to the real problem?
There are so many other problems with the Muslim world which are no one else's fault in the world but their own, I do not even have the time to waste here explaining it to deaf ears. This one problem is the one, though, that has to be fixed before they could ever begin to work on any of their other many problems. I will, however, mention one other vital problem. You cannot obsessively hate others and expect to be on any other road but the road to self-destruction. This is psychology 101 and the Muslim world cannot even get this one right.
America, of course, thinks of herself first, however, we have helped many people in the world that are willing to help themselves. Why do we do this? One of the main reasons is b/c poverty stricken people are very unhappy people and almost always become obsessed with hatred and people obsessed with hatred always want to kill other people. And this is the main reason the US is always trying to help others overcome their poverty.
There is no doubt, though, the Muslim world is on its way to self-destruction. They have dug a hole so deep in today's world, I seriously doubt them ever being capable of climbing out of their hole. The world will soon find other ways to make their cars go. Many are working on this as we speak. No one wants to live any longer with the hypocritical Muslim world holding their oil overtop of them. When this happens, the Muslim world will soon fall into a huge war among themselves and no one will care. They will become so poverty stricken that billions will starve to death and no one in this world will want to help them b/c no one in the world will want to try to deal with them b/c in the Muslim world, everyone is always damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Before this happens, though, many of us want to see the day when the Muslim world has to deal with China and Russia instead of the western free world. You need not look any further than at how the Chinese treat their own Muslim population to get a little bit of insite of what you have to look forward to. There will be a day that the Muslim world will be doing nothing but praying that the US was still the only superpower in the world. The US has protected and saved many more Muslims than the Muslim world will ever admit. Yes, it has been thru your dictators. Why? Because until the Internet, how did anyone in the world have any way of knowing Muslims didn't like their dictators? Even with the Internet, this is very hard to tell, considering that every time anyone in the west or Israel puts down a dictator in the Muslim world, the dictator instantly becomes the Muslim world's highest hero no matter what they have done. Your dictators have been using your hatred and jealousy of the west for many years now to keep your hatred and focus off of them and onto others. Again, this is psychology 101. Since the Muslim world has so many dictators, anyone in the world would think this is because they want them. Actually, Islam/Muslims is exactly what causes them to end up with so many dictators. Something else Muslims will never admit to themselves, let alone anyone else in the world. With the way you raise your children to hate from day one & the way Muslims are constantly fighting each other, whoever is the most evil and brutal are the ones who end up being your leaders. Notice how no great heros ever rise up in the Muslim world where they so desparately need them? Well, Muslims have no one else to blame for this than themselves. No great leaders could ever rise up in this type of atmosphere of hatred. If they ever did by some miracle, I am certain they would instantly be killed. Muslims constantly shoot themselves in the foot, too, b/c they are so eaten up with hatred. They make decisions based on how much the west and/or ISrael will be hurt by these decisions, even though they almost always hurt no one more than themselves. This is one of the main reasons people who are eaten up with hatred are always on the road to self-destruction.
Well, as I said, I could go on and on and on about why you are so wrong and why the Muslim world is in the shape they are in today. As everyone says, the Muslim world will never start climbing out of the very deep, dark hole they keep digging deeper & deeper for themselves until they learn to love their children more than they hate others. When they start facing the truth and raising their children to love everyone, hence, making them capable of logical thinking when they become adults, then, and only then, will they begin climbing out of their very deep hole they keep digging for themselves. Muslims in the Muslim world have done nothing but hurt themselves for many, many years, and over the last few years they have really screwed themselves.
By
Anonymous, at Sunday, June 24, 2007 11:47:00 AM
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