So, today I decided to write about Pakistan. It might seem a little off topic but really it's not, Middle Eastern countries (particularly Saudi Arabia) have a lot of involvement and influence in the country and ties with the Arab League. The issues between Sunni and Shia Muslims does not stop in Bahrain but is a recurring issue in many countries with large Muslim populations. It is an extremely complicated issue and I cannot possibly address it here but is important to at least recognize this conflict.
I have been posting about the Shia protests in Bahrain and the stark crackdowns that follow, what is happening in Pakistan is a bit different. In Pakistan it occurs on a group-to-group basis for the most part but does have political connotations (as does everything). An attack occurred in Karachi that killed at least 38 people today in an area dominated by Shia Muslims, a minority in Pakistan. At first, it was unknown if this was an intentional attack solely on the Shia Muslim population and although it is still unclear it appears that way, as attacks have occurred recently in other Shia populated towns.
Where did this come from in Pakistan? Well, in the 1980's and 1990's Pakistan's intelligence agency, the one essentially sponsored by the US, sponsored Sunni militant groups to target Shia minorities for fear of insurrection lead by...guess. IRAN. Who else is scared of Iran, Bahrain...and, well most of the Arab League. See some connection?
Now I am by no way saying that all Sunni and Shia Muslims hate each other and cannot get along because it is simply not true. What is occurring today is at its heart, political fear and power grabbing. My boyfriend is from Pakistan and from Karachi. He has continually said the dynamic in Pakistan is all about politics; the politicians exploit the religions and already existent divisions to further their own agendas. Sounds familiar.
I think this will be something to look out for in SERMAL and we must understand that Iran is a legitimate fear to some of these countries as much as it is to the U.S.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2013/03/20133315617954671.html
I've of course heard of the fighting between the Shias and Sunnis but I've never heard of Iran being linked to the fighting. I also didn't realize that Iran is as much a fear to some of the Arab League countries as it is to the U.S. It's always sad to see when government and politics uses its power to exploit religions and deepen divisions.
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