Last week especially brought trouble for two countries, Pakistan and Oman. The reason is that US President Donald Trump has his eyebrows raised and has put some special conditions for both of them. I see it from a different perspective—if you go to perform a dance, your waist will obviously get strained, and then it needs soothing. But His Majesty does not know how to soothe the waist; he prefers watching those he makes dance perform in his court. Now, if you don’t dance, he will obviously get angry.
Some people unnecessarily say that whoever becomes friends with Trump, he creates trouble for them. My view on this is completely different. Brother, is there any doubt that America is a superpower? There is no doubt, right? So in that sense, Trump has to be considered like a “His Majesty,” and if people do not listen to His Majesty, then whom will they listen to? And as far as Trump’s attitude is concerned, he truly is like a sovereign ruler. When he does not care about Russia and China, what will he care about Pakistan and Oman? But what can these two countries do? They have been given such conditions that they are sweating.
Especially Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir are in a difficult situation, unable to understand whether to listen to “His Majesty” or their own nation. Pakistan’s entire leadership is in turmoil. What has happened is that Trump has told not only Arab countries but also Pakistan that all countries should sign the Abraham Accords. Now understand what the Abraham Accords are: under a US-mediated agreement in 2020, the United Arab Emirates recognized Israel as a sovereign nation. Later, Morocco and Sudan also gave recognition. After Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994 recognized Israel, this was the first time an Arab country formally recognized Israel again.
Pakistan has not yet recognized Israel because it supports Palestine and considers Israel illegal. All Pakistani rulers have time and again spoken strongly against Israel. But now when this issue has flourished, “His Majesty” has said that Pakistan should recognize Israel. Now Sharif and Munir are in a situation where they are confused and stressed. They are quietly saying this is not possible, but they fear Trump may get angry.
But he is “His Majesty,” and he does not tolerate disobedience—especially when a child playing in his lap misbehaves, how can he tolerate it? Was all the chocolates given for this day? Was all that affection given for you to disobey? Pakistan should repay its debt of gratitude. It should look not only at the present but also at the past to see how much help the “great power” has given it. Not repaying this debt is a sin, and this sin will surely be punished by His Majesty.
Now let’s look at Oman. The story of sweetness in US-Oman relations dates back to 1790. Israel was created in 1948, but Oman has not recognized it. However, the reason for His Majesty’s anger is something else. The matter is that Oman and Iran were discussing how both could charge service fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. When His Majesty came to know of this, it was intolerable. After all, he has also raised this Oman like a child and given it affection—yet it is betraying him?
Meanwhile, some courtier must have informed him that Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, through an article, warned that by continuing war, the US is damaging its credibility and losing control over its own foreign policy.
On social media, Al Busaidi clearly stated that Iran is not a threat to the US. In such a situation, His Majesty’s anger seems justified to me. He has said that Oman must behave like others, otherwise we will have to destroy it.
Now all that remains is to hum the lines… Now only God knows what will happen!
And finally…
We will never be able to forget Bashir Sahab
Last week, I was traveling abroad in search of a new venue for the Lokmat World Economic Conclave. While walking by a river in Switzerland, I remembered a couplet by Bashir Badr:
We are rivers too, we know our own skill,
Whichever direction we go, a path will be formed.
Who knew then that upon returning to India, we would hear news of his passing. Reading and listening to him always felt like his ghazals carried love, separation, hope, and every philosophy of life. Bashir Badr remained a velvet-like emotion in the world of ghazal poetry. He expressed truth in such a way that it melts the heart:
People fall apart while building a home,
Do you not feel compassion while burning settlements?
Bashir Sahab gave immense dignity to the world of poetry and ghazals. He wrote:
Keep the light of your memories with us,
Who knows in which street life’s evening may fall.
Your memories will always remain with us like light. Goodbye, Bashir Sahab!
