KARACHI, Aug 4: There is a need for an internal reformation and progress within the Muslim world as only this can undo the propaganda against them. This was stated by noted security analyst Maj-Gen (Retd) Ghulam Umar. He was speaking at a seminar entitled “From 9/11 to 7/7” organized by the Department of International Relations, University of Karachi, under the programme Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution on Thursday.

Gen Umar pointed out that terrorism was a problem that could be resolved by addressing its causes and that the problem would continue if the causes were not addressed.

He said that Al Qaeda had nothing to do with Islam. “It is a political reaction to what is happening in Muslim societies.”

He stated that there was no relationship between terrorism and religion in general and Islam in particular. “All sane people of the world must de-link terrorism and religion.”

Britain, he said, was also partly responsible for terrorist acts taking place on its soil because of its failure to curb terrorist elements and giving asylum to people having dubious records.

He opined that there was no uni-polar world existent today. New centres of power were emerging in the world, which was shifting from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The US and China would continue to have an interest in Pakistan for their military and strategic reasons, he said.

The problems, he emphasized, should be seen in their correct historical perspective. “Conflicts of today have their roots in history.”

He said that with the demise of the Ottoman Empire, the Muslims had lost their political centre.

According to him, great powers had a tendency for dominance in the world and that tendency was still reflected in the policies of the powerful states. However, that, he said, did not mean that weak states could not become powerful or stable, he added.

The cycle of influence was now much shorter than the past pattern of influence. “Now states cannot dominate the world for a longer time, because the reaction against them weakens them.”

China, he said, was fast emerging as a global power and it could seriously threaten the hegemony of the western world in Asia, which meant that there were signs of multi-polarity in world politics.

He was also of the view that Pakistan could become a leader in progress and development, adding that that was possible only when greater emphasis was laid on democracy and political stability.

Gen Umar further believed that enhancement of political structures and institutions should be the major concern of the Muslim societies.

Prof Dr Moonis Ahmar, Director of the programme on Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Department of International Relations, KU stressed the revitalization of the Muslim world from within and to have a greater regard for pluralism.

Prof Dr Arif Kamal, Chairman of KU’s Department of Mathematics, Naeem Ahmed, Faheemuddin and faculty members of the Department of International Relations participated in the seminar.