ISIS is a danger to the existence of Iraq and other states in the region, their activities shaking up West Asia
In a surprising move, Arab States agreed to cooperate with all international, regional and national efforts to fight against militant groups active in Iraq and Syria. On September 7, Foreign Ministers of league of Arab States passed a resolution to take all necessary measures to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Arab States also supported an UN Security Council resolution in Cairo last month requesting member states to act to stop the supply of logistical, military and financial help to the groups and imposed sanctions on a number of the group’s fighters fighting in Syria and Iraq. The Security Council resolution was adopted under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, meaning it can be militarily enforced. Head of Arab league Nabil al-Arabi said, “What is needed is a clear decision for a comprehensive confrontation, militarily and politically.” Nabil also said that ISIS is a danger to the existence of Iraq and other states in the region, their activities shaking up West Asia. However, it is still not clear to what extent Arab nations will support western forces and coordinate with them.
However, the enigma is why Arab league ganged up against ISISIJ
There are certain reasons: First, the resolution was passed a day after the Arab league and US Secretary of State John Kerry discussed taking action against the militant groups over phone. Immediately after the Arab league resolution against ISIS, Kerry visited Saudi Arabia on September 11 in an attempt to assure the support of Arab states for an anti-ISIS campaign, while Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel was due to arrive in Turkey next week to convince Ankara for its support to fight against ISIS. Key Arab allies of the US, including Egypt, Jordan and lebanon, agreed to “do their share” to fight ISIS through a joint military effort. The announcement came after Kerry met regional counterparts in Jeddah. Arab States also agreed to enhance support for the new Iraqi government as it tries to unite its citizens without any discrimination on the basis of religions and sects in the fight against ISIS. Turkey also participated in the meeting, however it did not sign the final communiqué.
Second, after the fall of Saddam Hussein, Sunni-dominated states, including Saudi Arabia, have cut their political and diplomatic relations with Shia-dominated government in Iraq. Therefore, after a decade, Arab countries may feel this is a good opportunity to influence newly-formed government in Iraq through induction of Sunni groups in the political system of the country. Even newly-chosen Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi also started to induct Sunnis and Kurds into the new cabinet.
Third, league of Arab States also believes that ISIS is a great threat to the regional security, including Saudi Arabia, and they can challenge the authorities of monarchy in the region in the near future. The main claim of ISIS is to establish a caliphate. According to classical Muslim political theorists, there can only be one caliphate for the whole Muslim world or ummah. Fourth, it is also considered that the head of ISIS, Al-Baghdadi, is beyond the control of Arab countries.
It is also believed that Arab league nations is under US pressure, especially after US President Barack Obama’s request to the regional countries for an international coalition to confront ISIS. On 13 anniversary of 9/11, Obama stated that while ISIS stakes claim to being an “Islamic State,’ it is not Islamic as “no religion permits the killing of innocents, and the most of ISIS’ victims have been Muslims.”
Obama has also said that to decimate terrorist groups active in the region would take time and announced four steps plan to destroy ISIS. In the first step, a “systematic campaign of airstrikes” in cooperation with Arab allies and Iraqi government. In the second step, the US will send an additional 475 forces to Iraq to help Iraqi and Kurdish security forces. In the third step, he said “working with our partners, we will intensify our efforts to slash off its funding, contradict its biased ideology, enhance our Intelligence, boost defences, and stop the movement of foreign fighters into and out of the Middle East.” In the fourth step, the US will continue to give humanitarian support to the civilians displaced due to the threat of ISIS.
It must be noted here that contribution of Arab league will be important and crucial to preventing the strategic threat posed by ISIS. A new government in Iraq and recent successes against ISIS are welcome developments, though vital questions yet to resolve about maintaining momentum and success against the extremist groups. Although it is believed that ISIS is likely to lose its ground, due to certain factors: First, an effort to establish caliphate and combined difficulties of governance will compel many radical Islamists to adopt a pragmatic strategy and become relatively moderate. Second, opposition from Arab countries would give ISIS less room to operate from their soil. However, it is worth a mention that after a decade’s greater regional unity and support is realised, especially among the Arab States to fight against extremist groups in the West Asian region.
(The writer is Associate Fellow, IDSA, New Delhi)