Similarities between Pakistan and Israel

“Pakistan is like Israel, an ideological state. Take out Judaism from Israel and it will fall like a house of cards. Take Islam out of Pakistan and make it secular state; it would collapse.” – General Ziaul Haq, Pakistan’s Ruler, December 1981

First similarity between Pakistan and Israel is that both countries become visible on the world map as a consequence of ideological maneuvers. Pakistan and Israel are the only countries in this world, which were created under religious sentiments that can be seen in ”Two nation theory” and “Zionism” respectively.

Modeling and formation of both the countries were due to response of collective anxieties, slashing, laceration and trauma, partly real and partly manufactured. Pakistan was created as the homeland of Indian Muslims and in the same way Israel emerged as native land of all Jewish in a world but both confront with geographic and demographic realities that majority of Muslims and Jewish was living outside the both countries.

Both the countries emerged in the aftermath of 2^nd world war (Pakistan 1947 and Israel 1948) and Independence of both the countries was accompanied by migration and massacre of a lot of people. Israel and Pakistan, both countries faced religious extremism.

Both countries leadership is dominated by religion and military. Pakistan spend almost three decade under military rule i.e. General Ayub’s regime from 1958 to 1969, General Zia ul Haq’s rule from 1977 to 1979 and General Pervez Musharraf’s era from 1999 to 2008.  Similarly Israel was run by most of those prime minister that were part of Jewish army or some Jewish militant groups i.e. Menachem Begin, sixth prime minister of Israel, was also commander of Jewish militant group Irgun, Yitzhak Shamir remained principal authority of Zionist militant group Lehi before becoming 7^thprime minister of Israel and Ariel Sharon, 11^thprime minister of Israel, was also high command General in Jewish army.

Both Pakistan and Israel are considered garrison states due to constant tensions at borders. Pakistan has confronting border situation with India and Afghanistan and Israel has similar hostile environment at its border with Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. Both countries fought three wars with its neighbors i.e. Pakistan collision with India in wars of 1948, 1965 and 1971 and Israel combat warfare against Arab countries in 1948, 1967 and 1975. Other than regular war, both countries are facing regional conflicts with armed group i.e. Pakistan’s army fight with regional armed and militant groups i.e. Al-Qaeeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Israeli fight with Gaza‘s armed group i.e. Hamas and Islamic Jihad of Palestine.

Last but not the least, religion is the dominant factor in the foreign policy of both countries because Israel is promulgating Judaism in the name of “return to holy land” and Pakistan is working for preservation of Islamic ideologies in the region.

Disclaimer: Surkhiyan believes in freedom of expression and providing space for views and opinions from all sides. But we may not agree with everything we publish. The views expressed in this op-ed are that of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Surkhiyan. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.