Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, June 22: National Conference (NC) President and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today said that Muslim countries in the Middle East would be the next target if they continued to act as mute spectators.
Speaking about the ongoing Israel-Iran war-which has now formally drawn in the United States of America (USA)-Abdullah said it is unfortunate that these countries remain silent and are not standing up against the aggression.
“What is unfortunate is that the Muslim countries in the Middle East are silent, acting as mute spectators. If it is Iran today, tomorrow it could be them-and they must realize that,” he said.
The NC President warned that these countries would eventually get drawn into the conflict, and the USA would try to “destroy them as well, because they are silent.”
On the role of former US President Donald Trump in resolving the conflict, Abullah said Trump himself is complicit in the war.
“Trump isn’t interested in resolving the conflict. We had hoped he would intervene and bring it to an end-but he is himself involved in it,” he added.
Commenting on the possible impact of the Middle East crisis on the global and Indian economies, Abdullah said that any disruption in oil supply would surely affect India as well.
“The more oil we get from them-and if that stops-our economy will suffer. No matter how much we claim to have reserves, reserves don’t last forever.”
Asked about Pakistan’s role and its growing closeness to the US, the former Chief Minister said he has no idea what is going to happen.
“We can’t say what’s going to happen. Pakistani field marshal was invited for lunch, Trump is keeping India close-and now Pakistan too. I have no idea what he’s up to, he added.”
The NC Chief emphasized that Iran is unlikely to abandon its nuclear ambitions, even after the recent U.S. airstrikes targeting three of its nuclear sites.
According to him, any belief by the U.S. and Israel that Iran will retreat is misguided.
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