IS and the Middle East

Islamic State, the Sunni extremists with their hardcore ideologies, is continuing their rapid advancement along the Syrian border, after capturing large swathes of Iraq.

The group which attempts to bring much of the Muslim inhabited regions under its political control, slaughters innocents on its way and appears to be undeterred despite the two month of air strikes by the US. US Defense Secretary Chuck Hegel’s Press Secretary Admiral John Kirby had said in a Pentagon press conference on Wednesday that the Islamic State militants are more likely to conquer Kobani, the Syria-Turkey border city. The insurgency has become the reason for panic and fear among the Arab countries. The Syrian Kurdish fighters have tried to stop the advance of IS with the help of the US. The airstrikes near Kobani have increased in the last few days. With the militants on the outskirts of Iraq, the capital city of Baghdad is also poised to surrender to them. People live in the fear of uncertainty about when the attacks will strike them. The insurgency is poised to spread to the neighbouring countries.

IS is believed to have rich funds of billions of dollars and a member strength of thousands led by a former prisoner from Guantanamo, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi. Many believe that the insurgents are a product of US and Israel conspiracy theory, designed to destroy the oil rich Middle East and to counter Iran’s growing influence in the region. The US stance in the world affairs has always been cynical and dubious. It has a long history of backing terrorist groups including Al Qaida. It was only after the mass killings of thousands, massive disfiguring of the region and beheading of the two US journalists, America and its key allies agreed to take on the IS militants by squeezing their financial resources and countering them with military might.

Like Syria and Iraq, other Middle East countries like Libya, Yemen and Egypt are also going through a political turmoil. Autocracy, political instability, corruption, poor infrastructure and severe financial crisis have been sweeping these countries off into a whirlwind of destruction. Thousands of people have lost their lives and many displaced; but the Muslim world and the rest of the international community have kept mum. The fact should not be forgotten that the volatile and the conflict ridden regions in these countries is a reason for threat to the rest of the world. The autocratic government forces and the Islamist forces are continually battling the opponents in these countries claiming human lives as well as destroying the natural and economic resources. Poverty adds to the crisis.

Launching airstrikes to counter the militant attacks would not bring about a possible solution. Political transparency and democracy is what is essential in paving way for a stable, durable and peaceful system of government in these countries. The youths should also not be carried away by the similar terrorist propaganda that does not belong to the enlightened and moderate mainstream Islam.