Indonesia and Pakistan must demonstrate neutrality in mediation efforts, experts say

Indonesia and Pakistan must convince the world of their neutrality in efforts to de-escalate the Middle East conflict following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, according to Teuku Rezasyah, a lecturer in international relations at Padjadjaran University.

“Indonesia and Pakistan need to persuade the world that both are neutral, have a mandate from their respective societies, and have the blessing of many international organisations, particularly the Islamic Cooperation Organisation (OKI) and the Arab League,” Rezasyah told ANTARA in Jakarta on Monday, regarding plans for Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to travel to Tehran, Iran.

He assessed that mediation efforts in the Gulf region will face the greatest challenges from the United States and Israel, which consider themselves superior to the United Nations (UN).

“It is not inconceivable that the US and Israel will embarrass Indonesia and Pakistan, treating them as minor actors whose views need not be considered in world peace efforts,” he warned.

After Indonesia and Pakistan reach consensus, Rezasyah continued, the initiative should be consulted with other organisations, including the Developing Eight (D-8), the Islamic Cooperation Organisation, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Arab League, to serve as a framework for UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions.

“All subsequent processes should be used as material for public diplomacy, so as to become a reference for all international media,” said the Padjadjaran University academic.

Jimly Asshiddiqie, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI), also commented on the initiative. “The President told us earlier that before this meeting, he had a telephone conversation with the Pakistani Prime Minister, and I am grateful that President Prabowo and the Prime Minister of Pakistan are willing to travel together to Tehran. That is what the President explained earlier,” he said.