News:

Nawaz Sharif visited Iran from 11th May to 12th May 2014 after an interval of sixteen years. It was his first official visit of Iran after assuming Office of Prime Minister of Pakistan last year. Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan and Iran would work jointly for peace and security in the region. He termed Pakistan-Iran ties as special in nature because of their common traditions and history. Iran and Pakistan have signed eight memoranda of understanding/ agreements to greatly enhance their cooperation in various fields.

Comment:

This visit took place at a very crucial point when America wants all its agents to provide support to halt the blessed revolution in Syria. Ties had been weak for many years, as Iran came under increasingly restrictive international sanctions over its disputed nuclear program. When Iran was proclaimed as part of the axis of evil over the nuclear program, for many many years, America allowed ties between Pakistan and Iran to weaken.

However, recently American took quick actions to break the deadlock over Iran’s nuclear issue. This sudden change of heart and Iran’s return to the international community was due to the revolution in Syria, of the last three years, which is in its character is dominated by Islamic sentiments and in harmony with the correct Islamic thought, such that the people express their thought and desire by calling “the Ummah demands the return of the Khilafah”.

America had not been able to deceive the people of Syria through its traditional agents in the region about moderate Islam and Democracy, as it succeeded in other areas. In order to save Bashar, US needed Iran’s help, until she finds his alternate. This required a direct and more open contact between US and Iran, as compared to their covert friendly relations, since the fall of Shah of Iran. The significance of this change of heart was very obvious when Obama, declared after the signing of the nuclear deal with Iran, that “The first step that we have taken today marks the most significant and tangible progress that we have made with Iran since I took office… today’s announcement is just a first step, it achieves a great deal.” (World News (NBC News) online, 23/11/2013).

Not surprising that once again, Raheel-Nawaz regime follows America’s interests in foreign policy. Like the previous regimes of Musharaf-Aziz and Kayani-Zardari, the Raheel-Nawaz regime feels proud to move in order to secure American interests, even though it is at the cost of Islam and Muslims interests in foreign affairs. When America declared Iran to be a part of axis of evil, the regime kept the ties weak. But when Obama needed to mobilize Iran against the rise of the Khilafah in Syria, the Raheel-Nawaz regime has increased its ties with Iran as a loyal service to America. Yet again, the regime is content to co-operate in sin and aggression, not fearing the consequences in this life and the next. Allah سبحانه وتعالى says,

وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.”

(Al-Ma’ida 5: 2)

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut-Tahrir by

Shahzad Shaikh

Deputy to the Spokesman of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Wilayah Pakistan