Foundation for Development through Moral Revival (FDMR) recently held a lecture on "Reconciling realpolitik and principled diplomacy for conflict resolution" at the Raffia Choudri Memorial Centre, here.
FDMR Ambassador Mahdi Masud was the lead speaker and Admiral Quadir chaired the proceedings. Other speakers included Qutubuddin Aziz, M.B. Naqvi, Captain Riffat Zaheer, Bashir Jhumra, Siraj Ahmed, Detlef Kuestcr and Admiral S.Z. Hasnain.
Speakers called for Realpolitik to be tempered increasingly by universal moral principles in conflict resolution and the conduct of foreign policy. International public opinion must be mobilised in this regard. This especially important given the possession of stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction by severs counties.
Mahdi Masud explained that while Realpolitik today increasingly represents policy based exclusively on national expediency, the perceived selfish interests of the rulers was often camouflaged as national interest.
Preventive diplomacy based on what is right should be an integral part of the foreign policy of all.
He added that while the United Nation should aid promote morality in international relations and conflict resolution, the UN charter gave binding authority only to the Security Council which was subjected to veto power of permanent members some of whom often misuse that power.
All countries must accept jurisdiction of the international criminal court for greater justice and accountability, Mahdi Masud said.
He further said there must be an end to the dangerous and destabilising strategy of unilateral diplomacy and pre-emptive use of force which seriously threatened world peace and had brought misery to millions.
On Kashmir, he lamented that morality and international law had been sacrificed at the altar of political expediency by East and West.
Mahdi Masud said: " Islam postulates a principle-based order and warns against excesses in the pursuit of justice. We must seek the common ground between vital moral principles of the great faiths to seek principled and lasting conflict resolution."
It was necessary to revive informed ijtehad to face burning issues facing the Islamic world including resolving the chasm between principles and practice, he said. Senior columnist MB Naqvi said: " The leadership of invading countries should be tried by citizens at the bar of world public opinion. Nationalism creates their own interpretations, which are not moral. The UN is repeatedly misused for narrow national ends."
RealPolitik should be moderated aid tempered by morality for more sustainable solutions, he said adding using brute force created new problems, as was evident.
Senior diplomat and author Qutubudin Aziz emphasised that UN resolutions on Kashmir were still morally and legally valid. He welcomed Pakistani Presidents appeal to safeguard to the Holy and archaeological sites in Iraq.
Kuester German Counsel spoke of his experience at the European Union and West Africa and said that dialogue, sometimes protracted-dialogue, could help solve problems and cool down disputes between and within states.
Siraj Ahmed emphasised that Political-will to follow morality-based policies, which is needed internationally and nationally.
In summing up Vice-Admiral Quadir said with one sole super power there were now two ways to overcome its effects. Either there was a UN Force, which was superior to any individual national force or the aim of the powers that be changes from acquiring purely selfish material and strategic gains to moral gains as sometimes can happen and we have sect in the recent border settlement between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
There were examples in the history where leaders acted according to moral principles and conscience, and averted continuing strife and disaster for their people, he said.
"Let us not accept the defeatist nation that Realpolitik is and will continue to be the sole basis for conducting policy and resolving conflicts," he said.
Other participants included Admiral Muzzafar Hasan, FMR Ambass. Birjis Hasan Khan, Admiral Hewn Ansari, Cdr Sayeed Shahabuddin, Rishad Choudri. Umair Choudri, Saad Choudri and Cdr. Nasiruddm Ahmed.-PR