There is an urgent need for regional cooperation in fight against the spread of extremism and ISIS’ tunnel vision in the West & South Asian region
Soon after Qatar’s top diplomat called for a “serious dialogue” with Iran in the wake of its nuclear deal with P5+1 (the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany) and the ongoing regional crises following unleashing of terror by ISIS or Daesh, Tehran has expressed its willingness to hold negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said the proposal to hold a joint meeting between Iran and the GCC countries on the regional conflicts and rise of ISIS by September 22, 2015, is a welcome initiative and all regional countries should take it seriously.
Qatar’s Foreign Minister Khalid Al Attiyah had told that following the “nuclear agreement between the world powers and Iran”, there was now scope to work with Iran on other regional issues. He underlined, “We should have a serious dialogue with our neighbour, the Iranians, and ... lay down our concerns from both sides, and solve them together. We have to live together.”
He added, “We in the GCC are working towards a good neighbourhood. We want Iran to take this approach as well, and only then we can have a fruitful dialogue.”
From Iranian side Abdollahian pointed out that a dialogue between Iran and Saudi Arabia is an urgent need to resolve the regional crises.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani appealed to the global players to join efforts to fight and uproot terrorism. Secretary to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani too asked for joint efforts by regional countries to fight against Takfiri terrorist groups in the region.
After a trilateral meeting with deputy heads of the Russian and Afghan national security councils in Tehran in August 2015, he said, “Regional cooperation and adopting joint initiatives by the concerned countries are the only way to successfully challenge terrorism and restore regional security and peace.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s appeal came after his three-leg visit to Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq late in July. Zarif also said that any threat to regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, will be considered a threat to Iran.
Iran considers Saudi Arabia an important country in the region and wants it to play active role to find solutions to regional problems, but it believes Saudi officials have impractical visions of the situation.
Gulf States got united against ISIS especially after the latest suicide attack that killed 26 people in Kuwait. More than 50 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in suicide attacks on three Shia mosques in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during the past two months.
The Ministers of the GCC States underlined that the killing of innocent people and spread of ISIS can imperil the security and stability of the region. The GCC Ministers also agreed that activities of terrorist groups are not linked with Islam and its values.
All told, some the GCC countries, especially Saudi Arabia, are deeply worried about Iran’s support to Shia groups in Bahrain, Iraq and Yemen. Moreover, Iran and the GCC countries have different stands on many regional issues, especially on finding a solution to the violence in countries like Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.
On Syria, the GCC countries have a strong stand on dislodging Bashar Al Assad, but Iran strongly supports the ruling Syrian regime.
On August 11, 2015, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir said in Moscow, “Our position has not changed ... there is no place for Al Assad in the future of Syria.”
He also stressed that Assad is part of the problem, not part of the solution. On the other hand, Iran’s stands is very clear about the Assad regime. Iran has reiterated that Tehran will continue to support Assad.
Iran-Iraq cooperation to counter ISIS
Iran enjoys strong relations with Iraq especially after the fall of Saddam’s regime and formation of a Shia dominated Government in Iraq. Iran is always concerned about security situation in Iraq and rise of Takfiri near its border.
On July 27, 2015, the Iranian Foreign Minister visited Iraq and held talks with his Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim al-Jafari regarding spread of terrorism and extremism in Iraq. He claimed that Iran is committed to support Iraq for peace and territorial integrity. Iranian leaders believe that Iraq is in urgent need of solidarity and political partnership of all sects and tribes of the country in accordance with Iraq’s constitution.
In a meeting with the delegation of Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian pointed out that Iran will extend its support to the axis of resistance and campaign against terrorism.
Deputy Head of Iraq’s Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Barham Salih appreciated Iran for its strong support for Iraq in tough time especially in the campaign against Takfiri terrorists. Iranian officials have called for cooperative efforts of all regional countries to help resolve the ongoing crises in Iraq and Syria, and emphasised Tehran’s continued support to these countries. Iran’s role to counter extremism and terrorism in the region in general and in Iraq in particular is undeniable.
Demand for reforms
It is noteworthy to mention here that the Iraq Government must work on reconciliation and reform process to stop disintegration of the country. Recently Iraqi Parliament speaker Saleem al-Jubouri underlined that there is urgency of reconciliation especially for building police and military forces to fight against terrorist groups.
He said in the battle against ISIS, many Iraqi Sunnis have hesitated to fight against it, which particularly opposes Shia.
Al Jubouri pointed out that the spread of ISIS in the Sunni northwest “is a result of the policy of exclusion… during the past few years, Sunnis in those areas felt voiceless and ignored by Shia dominated Government.”
It is also believed by Sunni groups that the areas controlled by ISIS are a result of the administrative and financial corruption. Political reforms and public security must be implemented in Iraq as soon as possible.
President of Iraqi Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani pointed out that there is the need for reconciliation and dialogue in Iraq. He said the fight against ISIS and the restoration of internal security and stability depends on a common effort and “peaceful co-existence.”
He was satisfied with his relationship with Kurds and Sunnis as well. He endorsed the Joint Coordinating Committee that has been formed by Iraqi Shia, Sunni and Kurdish forces to plan the operation to free Mosul from ISIS. He also stressed that for a while, a proposed referendum on Kurdistan’s independence from Iraq will have to wait, because the focus now is on crushing ISIS.
In response to political, religious leaders’ demands, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi announced the removal of 11 Cabinet posts on August 16, 2015, in the first practical step of a reform drive aimed at curbing corruption and streamlining the Government. Abadi’s move had come after weeks of protests and a call from the country’s top Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani.
One of the most right steps taken by the Abadi Government was the abolition of the vice-president (the post was held by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki) and deputy premier posts.
India’s apprehension
India too is concerned about the spread of ISIS in its neighbouring region. India has extended its support to the regional countries to fight against ISIS. On August 14, 2015, Indian leaders discussed the spread of ISIS and the threat posed by the group with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued a joint statement during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to the UAE on August 17, 2015. According to the joint communique, the two nations reject extremism and any link between religion and terrorism.
They also deplore efforts by countries to give religious and sectarian colour to political issues and disputes, including in West and South Asia, and use terrorism to pursue their aims.
India has also expressed its concerns as some Indian youths have joined ISIS. Without doubt it can be argued that there is an urgent need for joint efforts to fight against spread of extremism and terrorism in the West & South Asian region.
(The writer is Associate Fellow, West Asia Centre, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi. Views expressed here are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of IDSA)