Saudi-Iran Sectarian conflict in Middle-East

American president Trump has publicly acknowledged the Saudi version of Islamic Umma (community) & Middle East in 1^st Arab-Islamic American Submit. He was joined by 54 other states in rectifying Saudi’s leadership in middle-east. It is a clear Sunni Muslim alliance against minority Shias lead by Iran. America under Obama was trying to reach an understanding with Iran and defuse the sectarian tension in Middle East. This had angered Saudis and their Sunni allies but now again Saudi dollars has won Trump support. Obama’s action had forced Saudis to find alternative and Saudis had started to look east (India, China & Japan) for their safety & stability.

Saudis will but nearly 110 billion dollar of arms from America (Some of there were approved during Obama presidency). It seems that petro dollars have changed American vision of Middle East. Trump is happy that thousands of jobs would be created in America and American economy will flourish on the back of these arms deal. But he clearly ignored the role of Saudi in 9/11 attack. Obama had called Saudis a freeloader and that was correct in some way. Saudi Arabia has virtual security guaranty form America and they were not doing enough to fight terrorism. Majority of the terror outfits are from Sunni Wahabi school of thought. Wahabism had even created trouble for British in India in 19^th century and now it is one of the biggest problem for whole world. Just look at Pakistan- Pakistani Taliban has created havoc in Pakistan and sectarian violence is at peak inside Pakistan. Shias don’t feel safe in whole of Sunni Arab world and Pakistan. This is an open war between Saudis and Iranians all over the world whether it is Yemen or Syria. Let me clear the fact that Iranians are also no saints and they have sponsored terrorist organization like Hizbullas, Hamas etc. and have been supporting Assad in Syrian Civil war.

The open rivalry has put many Islamic countries like Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia and Central Asian Republic in very tight spot. They can’t chose between Saudi Arabia and Iran. This has worsened the situation of Pakistan. Pakistani PM was not allowed to speak in this submit because he may have tried to pacify Iran from his speech in Riyad. Pakistan is dependent on Saudi and American money but it can’t afford to have a hostile Iran on its western front. Also Shias are estimated to be 15-20% of the Pakistan population. A 20% hostile population (in case Pakistan openly goes with Saudi camp) can be devastating for Pakistan in this sectarian conflict. The world media has ignored the plight of thousands of civilians killed by Saudi carpet bombing. We all are aware about the Syrian crisis. Saudis were initially finding the group which became ISIS but now they are funding & arming more moderate opposition groups. Sunni Arab states have a vital Shia minority population and brutal regimes have suppressed these helpless people. American & Europeans who see themselves as champions of human rights are silent on the treatment of Shias in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar etc. Shias were oppressed by Sunni Saddam in Iraq for many decades and meanwhile Sunnis are being oppressed by current Shia dominated Iraqi government. Iran has its own proxies in Yemen, Lebanon and Syria. Sunni Arab states have even agreed to start the peace process with Israel on basis on 1967 boundary and they may even accept the existence of Israel within 1967 boarders. It is believed that Saudis and their allies are co-operating with their arch-rival Israel against Iranian influence in West Asia.

We are moving towards a very dangerous situation where Iran may be forced to make nuclear weapons and Saudis can buy Pakistani nuclear bomb with Petro dollars. The Shia-Sunni conflict which is restricted to Yamen, Syria or Lebanon may soon enlarge into a full scale war between Saudi & Iranian proxies elsewhere. The western world and Asian powers like India, China and Japan must try to solve this issue. India, China and Japan has good relationship with both Iran & Saudi Arabia. Particularly India will have to be very careful in dealing with this sectarian violence as we have sizable number of Shias among our Muslim population. India has vast economic interests in Iran and India is building alternate route to Afghanistan via Chabahar port. On the other side Saudi Arabia and it Sunni allies are the largest supplier of petroleum products to India. India will have to find a way to deal with both Iran & Saudi Arabia. An open war between Shia & Sunni camp will devastate the world as most of the oil is supplied from gulf region and security of Middle East is must for pace in Asia & Europe. Europe is often targeted by terrorists based out of western Asia & Pakistan. Trump is playing with fire in Middle East and whole world including America may have to pay a heavy price in taking open sides in this Islamic sectarian rivalry.