As tensions escalate in the Middle East following US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Indian politician Asaduddin Owaisi has taken aim at Pakistan's previous calls for a Nobel Peace Prize for US President Donald Trump. The strikes, which targeted key Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, have drawn international condemnation and raised concerns about regional stability.
Owaisi, the chief of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), questioned whether Pakistan had supported Trump's potential Nobel Peace Prize nomination with the expectation that he would initiate military action against a sovereign nation. "We should ask Pakistanis if for this they want Trump to get a Nobel Peace Prize," Owaisi stated, highlighting the seeming contradiction between advocating for peace and supporting military intervention.
His remarks also targeted Pakistan's military leadership, particularly in light of recent events. Just days before the US strikes, Trump hosted Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, for lunch at the White House, marking an unprecedented meeting between a US president and a Pakistani army chief who is not also the head of state. Owaisi sarcastically questioned the purpose of the lunch, asking, "Did Pakistan's General (Munir) have lunch with the US president for this? They all have been exposed today."
The AIMIM leader didn't hold back his criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, either, accusing him of being a "butcher of Palestinians." Owaisi argued that the US strikes would embolden Netanyahu, who he claims is already orchestrating a "genocide" in Gaza and "ethnic cleansing" in the West Bank. He lamented the lack of international concern over these actions, suggesting that the focus on Iran's nuclear program serves as a distraction from the suffering of Palestinians.
Beyond the immediate geopolitical implications, Owaisi expressed serious concerns about the potential consequences for India if the situation in the Gulf and Middle East deteriorates further. He emphasized that over 16 million Indians reside in the region, and a full-scale war could have a devastating impact on their lives and livelihoods. The region is also economically vital to India, with significant Indian investments and foreign investment inflows originating from these Arab countries.
Owaisi dismissed the narrative surrounding Iran's nuclear capabilities as a manufactured threat, drawing parallels to past justifications used against Iraq. He argued that the focus on Iran's nuclear ambitions serves as a pretext for external intervention and ignores the underlying issues driving regional instability. He also pointed to the fact that Israel possesses a substantial number of nuclear warheads that are not subject to international inspections, raising questions about the fairness and consistency of international non-proliferation efforts.
The US strikes on Iran have been met with mixed reactions globally. While some, like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have praised Trump's "bold decision" and emphasized the "full coordination" between the two countries, others have condemned the attacks as a violation of international law and a dangerous escalation of tensions. The strikes have further complicated an already volatile situation in the Middle East, with the potential for wider conflict and far-reaching consequences. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency stated there was "no increase in off-site radiation levels" after the strikes.
