Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed concern about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, after a deadly attack in Kashmir on 22 April, which killed 26 people.

Nevertheless, Anwar’s offer to mediate between the two countries has been widely criticized.

An Indian journalist from FirstPost, Palki Sharma, slammed Anwar whom she said was not a neutral person as he had often taken Pakistan’s side in previous conflicts.

Malaysia, she added, was unqualified to act as a peace broker.

Sharma was appalled with Anwar’s reference that “Malaysia understands Pakistan’s difficulties.”

Simultaneously, on 5 May, Anwar said that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had postponed his scheduled official visit to Malaysia on Friday because of the escalating tension.

He said, “I expressed my full understanding of the difficult circumstances Pakistan is facing, and conveyed Malaysia’s hope that the situation will de-escalate swiftly.”

Anwar’s insensitivity is outrageous. The carnage perpetrated by the terrorists claimed many innocent lives.

Fear spread throughout the community, but Anwar appears to have downplayed the violence as “Pakistan’s difficulties.”

India had to deal with the aftermath of the terrorist attack.

Pakistan may claim that it had nothing to do with the attack, but it is notorious for its cross-border terrorism and in Pahalgam, witnesses said terrorists were targeting non-Muslim people.

Again, Anwar appears to be oblivious to the fact that the carnage was perpetrated on Indian soil. He had the temerity to say it was Pakistan which faced difficulties.

Some Malaysians wonder if his ego is so huge that he is eager to project himself onto the world stage as a power-broker, and is more keen on solving other nations’ internal conflicts which have little to do with Malaysia.

The Indian External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, made a subtle reference to Anwar’s (and also Iran’s) inability to deal with their own country’s domestic issues.

Jaishankar said, “When we look out at the world… we look for partners. We don’t look for preachers, particularly preachers who don’t practice at home what they preach abroad.”

Anwar has allegedly ignored the welfare of the Indian community in Malaysia, like the temple in Kuala Lumpur’s Masjid India district.

The century-old temple will be demolished to make way for a mosque.

Last year, Anwar berated an Indian teenager for daring to ask him about the quotas for higher education imposed on non-Malay students and his failure to implement meritocracy in education.

Many bright non-Malay students are highly disadvantaged by affirmative action policies.

Speaking out where our input is not needed has its consequences, especially in trade, foreign exchange, bilateral relations, diplomacy, our international reputation, and national harmony.

Despite Anwar’s lack of leadership, the irony is that the PM has offered his services as a mediator between India and Pakistan.

Why is Anwar keen to mediate in what is clearly a bilateral issue in which the roots are steeped in deep, difficult and complex historical, political and religious origins?

Likewise, Anwar’s outspoken remarks about Gaza are also perplexing? The conflict in Gaza has its roots embedded in centuries-old tensions which to date remain unresolved.

Despite his desire to be involved in the Gaza-Israel conflict, none of Middle Eastern nations have invited him for discussions involving Gaza. When will Anwar learn he is not wanted?

More importantly, there are countries in which Muslims are killing fellow Muslims.

This is Anwar’s hypocrisy because for some perverse reason known only to himself, he has not offered to mediate in Yemen, Syria, Somalia or Sudan.

So, has Anwar or Pakistan a hidden agenda? Naturally, India is furious because of the distraction created by certain quarters about India and Pakistan being nuclear powers.

Escalating tensions and the threat of a potential nuclear fallout has resulted in Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism, with allegations of terrorists being harbored in Pakistan, and then crossing over to create havoc in India, being ignored.

If Pakistan’s distraction is to hide its cross-border terrorism, then what is Anwar’s agenda?

He appears to want to promote himself as an international power broker at a time when many domestic issues need his input.

Back home, his own party PKR is torn apart by internal factions. He has issues with the deputy president of PKR and the internal party election is mired in controversy.

There are workers and migrant issues, the education system is abysmal, corruption in the civil service is enormous, many politicians only pay lip-service to protecting the environment and sexual abuse in many religious schools is high.

Overall, Anwar’s Madani administration is a huge disappointment.

The Indian government’s rebuttal of Anwar’s offer to mediate should be a warning for the PM to stand back and not upset India further.

Malaysians may recall the remarks made by the then PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad about Kashmir and India’s religion-based citizenship law.

In 2019, Malaysian palm oil manufacturers feared the backlash by India because of its threat to cut back on the import of oil palm. This would hurt the Malaysian economy and Felda farmers.

Anwar, like his one-time mentor Mahathir, needs to think first before he says things which will upset other leaders.

Speaking out where our input is not needed has its consequences, especially in trade, foreign exchange, bilateral relations, diplomacy, our international reputation, and national harmony.

Sources:

1. Malaysiakini: Indian media slams ‘absurd’ Anwar, says unqualified to mediate
2. Malaysiakini: India-Pakistan: Anwar offers to cool things, Ramasamy gets heated
3. Reuters: Malaysia’s PM defends criticism of India despite palm oil backlash
4. Al Jazeera: Malaysian PM stands by Kashmir comment despite India palm oil ban

(Mariam Mokhtar is a Freelance Writer.)