Divide in the Islamic World.

Mohammad bin Salman(MbS), the Saudi Crown Prince who has been hailed in the west as "Great Reformer" , but in the process of his reforms he has surrendered its role as leader of the Islamic world by abandoning 'sensitive and emotional' muslim issues like Palestine, Kashmir and Uighur. The drastic U-turn in the foreign policy towards Israel created further division and leadership vacuum with both Iran and Turkey, waiting in the wings, to fill the void. In recent times, Turkey has tried to cozy up to Iran and Pakistan in order to form a new bloc outside of OIC's influence.

So is Turkey and its allies like Iran and Pakistan trying to make a new Islamic bloc? Let us look at the recent developments in each of the 3 countries which leads us to a conclusion that a divide has been created in the Muslim world.

TURKEY

▪Erdogan was named as the world most popular Muslim leader in the Gallup International Index in 2020.

▪His recent decision to converting Hagia Sophia back to a mosque can be linked to ambition to portray himself as a Leader of the muslim world and replace the Saudi Arabia.

▪In 2019, Turkey along with Pakistan and Malaysia announced that they would be launching a new english language Islamic Television Channel to promote the muslim interests.

▪At the 2016 Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Ankara, Erdogan, while blasting the West, called upon the Islamic world to unite to solve its own problems rather than relying on outsiders.

▪After the UAE - Israel deal, Erdogan has increasingly styled himself as the Palestinian's lone regional champion, despite his country having had diplomatic relations with Israel for decades. Erdogan is trying to win the support of the larger Muslim population around the world by supporting Palestine and criticising UAE. Turkey has threatened to suspend diplomatic ties with UAE.

PAKISTAN

▪Pakistan has tried to raise the Kashmir issue in OIC since India has removed Article 370. But OIC which is led by Saudi has not paid my attention to Kashmir issue which considers it is an "internal affair" of India.

▪Pakistan FM Qureshi boycotted the meeting of OIC in 2019 after India FM Sushma Swaraj was invited to the meeting as a guest of honour.

 ▪Pakistan has been stopping the membership of India in the OIC which has 10.3% of the world's muslim population.

▪In Aug 2020, Pakistan had threatened KSA that OIC will loose the only nuclear power in the Islamic world if it continued to ignore summoning a Council of Foreign ministers meeting on Kashmir. FM Qureshi said "Pakistan will build another bloc outside of Arab influence".

▪Pakistan PM Imran Khan said "Our stance is very clear as Muhammad Ali Jinnah said, Pakistan will never recognise Israel until Palestinians are given their right of a just settlement."

IRAN 

▪Iran's tensions with Israel and USA has increased in few years. Iran, an enemy of Saudi Arabia will likely to join the new bloc outside the influence of Saudi.

▪Iran has strongly condemned the UAE - Israel deal and lashed out at the UAE.

Which all nations are likely to join the new Islamic Bloc, if it is formed ?

This bloc might be led majorily by Turkey, Pakistan and Iran that would follow an anti-Saudi instance. This bloc could be joined by Malaysia,  Azerbaijan, Qatar. It is also a possibility that China might fund this bloc, if it does so, many African muslim nations can join this bloc too.

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