In this clip, Seema Sirohi explores with Kim Ghattas if General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq was trying to create an Arab identity for Pakistan. “Zia-ul-Haq,” says Kim Ghattas, “was a dictatorial opportunist who was keen to find ways of ruling and maintaining his rule.”

Up until the time of Zia-ul-Haq’s prominence, says Ghattas, the Saudis were proselytising more behind the curtain, but 1979 saw that “project on steroids”. Before that, she says, the Saudis would distribute their largesse here and there but in a haphazard way, not with a methodical approach. What was clear, however, was that there were two rivals when it came to a claim on Islamic identity—the Saudis and the Iranians. While Iranians held a greater appeal for Shiites, Saudis made an effort to have Pakistan as an extra ally on its eastern flank.

“This was met by a fair bit of pushback within Pakistan, though,” says Kim Ghattas. The Pakistani people resist to this day the Saudi effort to impose its Islamic identity on their country—something easily indicated by debates on certain Urdu versus Arabic terms for common rituals in Pakistani life. Listen to Kim Ghattas as she helps the audience come to grips with the complexities of the Middle East in this riveting conversation with Seema Sirohi at the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Watch the Full Video: [ Ссылка ]

Follow us on Social Media –

[ Ссылка ]
[ Ссылка ]
[ Ссылка ]
[ Ссылка ]

#Kim_Ghattas
#Islam
#Political_Force
#seema_sirohi
#Islam_and_Politics
#Pakistan
#Arab_Identity

свернуть