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The strategy of Enlightened Moderation proposed by President General Pervez Musharraf at the 10th OIC Summit held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on 16-17 October, 2003 seeks to advance the internal and external aspirations of the Islamic world and bridge the gulf of misunderstanding between Islam and the West. Tolerance, harmony, socio-economic emancipation, human resource development, and just and peaceful resolution of disputes are essential ingredients of this strategy. Building on the elements of Enlightened Moderation, Pakistan Mission also tables its annual resolution in the General Assembly entitled “Promotion of religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation” which has been adopted by consensus since the 58th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Read the text of the resolution.
The President has outlined two prongs of the strategy of Enlightened Moderation: (i) socio-economic revival and intellectual development within the Muslim world (including reform of OIC); and (ii) support from international community for (a) resolution of outstanding disputes involving Muslims and (b) economic assistance for internal revival in Islamic world.
The first prong of the strategy addresses the internal weaknesses and vulnerabilities of the Islamic world, while simultaneously rejecting recourse to militancy and extremism. Today, in the Islamic world, there is a disconnect between promise, potential and reality. To promote dynamic development, prosperity, and peace within the Muslim nations and societies, there is a need to focus on poverty reduction, employment generation, expansion of industrial production, science and technology, higher education, health, and human resource development. Socio-economic progress and growing prosperity will also provide the best antidote to extremism and violent proclivities, which accompany it.
The second pincer in the strategy of Enlightened Moderation should be delivered by the international community to promote global peace and harmony. This can be done in two principal ways: One, by helping to secure just solutions for the political disputes where Muslim peoples are being unjustly oppressed; and two, by assisting the Muslim world in its internal strategy of socio-economic development.
In order to ensure the successful execution of the strategy, it is imperative that components/elements of each of the two prongs should be well identified, transformed into process and operationalized. Action must take place on both prongs of the strategy simultaneously. more...