The title might leave many confused. I know it sounds ridiculous, mainly because even the Middle East doesn't give any two hoots about Islamic Brotherhood; so how exactly will Pakistan develop and further its relationship with Russia through the concept of Islamic Brotherhood when Russia is primarily comprised of orthodox Christians? Well, stay with me, I will take you through the complete background and why I think it is the way forward.
Background
The main actor in such a roadway would be the Chechen Republic. What is Chechnya? Chechnya is the republic – federal subject – of the Russian Federation.
Chechens – the people of Chechnya – are not ethnically Russian, although they are ethnically white. 95% of the Chechens are Muslims, and the population of the federal subject is about 1,400,000 as of now in estimations.
However, this, now republic of the Russian Federation, after the cessation of the Soviet Union, engaged in an armed rebellion against the Federation to attain independence. They fought two wars for this. Both wars saw huge destruction of Chechnya, mass killings, terror attacks and a lot of damage, so much so, consider that Chechnya of that time had become Iraq while the Russian Federation of that time had become Pakistan.
The leader of this whole thing was the father of Ramzan Kadyrov, Akhmad Kadyrov. Akhmad Kadyrov was a staunch supporter of the Independence movement which initiated the First Chechen war, but he was at some odds with rest of the fighters from Middle East since he was critical of Wahhabism which many of these foreign fighters from Middle East, who had come in the name of Jihad, adhered to.
This person, was soon after the initiation of first Chechen war made the Chief Mufti of the new self-declared independent republic. However, this man had switched sides in the Second Chechen war, he and his militia defected to the Russian Federation and became loyal to the Federation.
The second Chechen war had ended with Russia establishing its writ in the federal subject, and installing Akhmad Kadyrov in its pro-Russian Government. Akhmad was however assassinated in 2004 by separatists, and his son Ramadan Kadyrov took over the the republic in 2007.
Now, before coming to what kind of a state is the Chechen Republic now in, we must note that these Chechen Wars were very bloody, like I said, Chechnya had become Iraq while Russia had become Pakistan, and I am not being hyperbolic or overestimating it. Even after the wars, separatism dealt a lot of terrorist blows to Russia; and things were way, extremely, worse during the wars. Here are a couple of examples of post war terrorist attacks.
Now coming back to topic. Chechnya has since the wars, changed a lot. The separatism movement has been destroyed and Chechnya has been rebuilt, it is beautiful than ever, much like the European state of Georgia, and its economy and social environment is doing amazing. Ramadan Kadyrov, son of Akhmad Kadyrov, has done an immense amount of work in rebuilding Chechnya within so many little years, it is unbelievable.
The Chechen Influence
Well, the leader of the Chechen Republic, Ramadan Kadyrov, enjoys a great influence in the politics of the Russian Federation. Due to his immense work in finishing off the separatist movement, bringing about the revival of Chechnya as a well developed republic, and pro-Russian narrative along with his father and his militia doing a great deal of work in bringing about the pro-Russian narrative in the republic, he enjoys a great relationship with Putin and the Russian Federation. But at the same time, he is very, very controversial in the world and has many allegations against him, including human rights abuse, torture and what now. But he is a very, very outspoken person as well.
For example.
When responding to a question on how he is going to "avenge the murder of his father", Ramzan said:
But then again, he is extremely controversial. I don't want to go into the controversies.
So, how does it all connect?
Chechnya, as a republic, is extremely Islamic and conservative in nature. Their leader is openly, explicitly outspoken about it. Their culture, their laws, they all reflect that.
For example, he has said the following.
The videos.
The above video highlights their adherence to the religion of Islam even as leaders and in Governmental level.
This documentary showcases their Islamic and very conservative culture. It also highlights the miraculous economic and infrastructural, + social, development.
My words and quotations here aren't enough to truly capture their Islamic culture and belief and also their influence, in the amount of words I have given, it would be supposed as an understatement. Therefore, I highly suggest you look at, specifically, the documentary.
So conclusively...
Pakistan being an Islamic Republic that is has a large Muslim population, it is the very few of the Islamic Republics in the world, and was the only state to openly condemn and contact the Dutch Government over a right-wing politician's attempt to hold a derogatory cartoon contest on drawing our beloved Prophet Muhammad [PBUH]. Pakistan being a state which also holds influence in the Muslim world, and is one of the few states which is very outspoken about its support to the Islamic World. Be it the supplying arms to Bosnian Muslims in the Bosnian War, or unconditionally supporting Palestine, forming the OIC with other states, sending in SSG for Mecca; or Pakistan's intense efforts for independence of Indonesia, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco.
Pakistan has a great opportunity here to connect with Chechnya, which is a very Islamic republic in nature, both in Government and in culture among common people. And through Chechen influence, Pakistan can very well establish greater relations with the Russian Federation.
But, on the downside, it can be viewed as Pakistan forcing its way for better relations with Russia. And it can also put Pakistan in a bad lens as Chechen leader is extremely controversial.
Thoughts welcome.
Background
The main actor in such a roadway would be the Chechen Republic. What is Chechnya? Chechnya is the republic – federal subject – of the Russian Federation.
Chechens – the people of Chechnya – are not ethnically Russian, although they are ethnically white. 95% of the Chechens are Muslims, and the population of the federal subject is about 1,400,000 as of now in estimations.
However, this, now republic of the Russian Federation, after the cessation of the Soviet Union, engaged in an armed rebellion against the Federation to attain independence. They fought two wars for this. Both wars saw huge destruction of Chechnya, mass killings, terror attacks and a lot of damage, so much so, consider that Chechnya of that time had become Iraq while the Russian Federation of that time had become Pakistan.
The leader of this whole thing was the father of Ramzan Kadyrov, Akhmad Kadyrov. Akhmad Kadyrov was a staunch supporter of the Independence movement which initiated the First Chechen war, but he was at some odds with rest of the fighters from Middle East since he was critical of Wahhabism which many of these foreign fighters from Middle East, who had come in the name of Jihad, adhered to.
This person, was soon after the initiation of first Chechen war made the Chief Mufti of the new self-declared independent republic. However, this man had switched sides in the Second Chechen war, he and his militia defected to the Russian Federation and became loyal to the Federation.
The second Chechen war had ended with Russia establishing its writ in the federal subject, and installing Akhmad Kadyrov in its pro-Russian Government. Akhmad was however assassinated in 2004 by separatists, and his son Ramadan Kadyrov took over the the republic in 2007.
Now, before coming to what kind of a state is the Chechen Republic now in, we must note that these Chechen Wars were very bloody, like I said, Chechnya had become Iraq while Russia had become Pakistan, and I am not being hyperbolic or overestimating it. Even after the wars, separatism dealt a lot of terrorist blows to Russia; and things were way, extremely, worse during the wars. Here are a couple of examples of post war terrorist attacks.
- Around 50 Chechen rebels seized a Moscow theater and took about 900 civilians hostage in October 2002. The crisis ended with 117 hostages and up to 50 rebels dead.
- In September 2004, separatist rebels occupied a school in the town of Beslan, North Ossetia, demanding recognition of the independence of Chechnya and a Russian withdrawal. 1,100 people (including 777 children) were taken hostage. The attack lasted three days, resulting the deaths of over 331 people, including 186 children.
Now coming back to topic. Chechnya has since the wars, changed a lot. The separatism movement has been destroyed and Chechnya has been rebuilt, it is beautiful than ever, much like the European state of Georgia, and its economy and social environment is doing amazing. Ramadan Kadyrov, son of Akhmad Kadyrov, has done an immense amount of work in rebuilding Chechnya within so many little years, it is unbelievable.
The Chechen Influence
Well, the leader of the Chechen Republic, Ramadan Kadyrov, enjoys a great influence in the politics of the Russian Federation. Due to his immense work in finishing off the separatist movement, bringing about the revival of Chechnya as a well developed republic, and pro-Russian narrative along with his father and his militia doing a great deal of work in bringing about the pro-Russian narrative in the republic, he enjoys a great relationship with Putin and the Russian Federation. But at the same time, he is very, very controversial in the world and has many allegations against him, including human rights abuse, torture and what now. But he is a very, very outspoken person as well.
For example.
When responding to a question on how he is going to "avenge the murder of his father", Ramzan said:
- I've already killed him, whom I ought to kill. And those, who stay behind him, I will be killing them, to the very last of them, until I am myself killed or jailed. I will be killing [them] for as long as I live... Putin is gorgeous. He thinks more about Chechnya than about any other republic [of the Russian Federation]. When my father was murdered, he [Putin] came and went to the cemetery in person. Putin has stopped the war. Putin should be made president for life. Strong rule is needed. Democracy is all but an American fabrication... Russians never obey their laws. Everyone was stealing, and only Khodorkovsky is in jail.
- He stated, "America is not really a strong enough state for us to regard it as an enemy of Russia, we have a strong government and are a nuclear state." He also stated, "Even if our government was completely destroyed, our nuclear missiles would be automatically deployed. We will put the whole world on its knees and screw it from behind.
- Kadyrov responded in English, according to The New York Times – or a "rambling" one, according to the Daily Mail – along with a doctored photo of Oliver wearing a Putin T-shirt, captioned, in part, "I am tired of jokes. I want to care for cats in Chechnya. By the way, Putin is our leader."
But then again, he is extremely controversial. I don't want to go into the controversies.
So, how does it all connect?
Chechnya, as a republic, is extremely Islamic and conservative in nature. Their leader is openly, explicitly outspoken about it. Their culture, their laws, they all reflect that.
For example, he has said the following.
- If we have [gay] people here, I'm telling you officially their relatives won't let them be because of our faith, our mentality, customs, traditions. Even if it's punishable under the law, we would still condone it.
- In January 2015, Kadyrov said he would organize protests if a Russian newspaper published the Charlie Hebdo cartoons, saying "we will not allow anyone to insult the Prophet [Muhammad], even if it will cost us our lives."
The videos.
The above video highlights their adherence to the religion of Islam even as leaders and in Governmental level.
This documentary showcases their Islamic and very conservative culture. It also highlights the miraculous economic and infrastructural, + social, development.
My words and quotations here aren't enough to truly capture their Islamic culture and belief and also their influence, in the amount of words I have given, it would be supposed as an understatement. Therefore, I highly suggest you look at, specifically, the documentary.
So conclusively...
Pakistan being an Islamic Republic that is has a large Muslim population, it is the very few of the Islamic Republics in the world, and was the only state to openly condemn and contact the Dutch Government over a right-wing politician's attempt to hold a derogatory cartoon contest on drawing our beloved Prophet Muhammad [PBUH]. Pakistan being a state which also holds influence in the Muslim world, and is one of the few states which is very outspoken about its support to the Islamic World. Be it the supplying arms to Bosnian Muslims in the Bosnian War, or unconditionally supporting Palestine, forming the OIC with other states, sending in SSG for Mecca; or Pakistan's intense efforts for independence of Indonesia, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco.
Pakistan has a great opportunity here to connect with Chechnya, which is a very Islamic republic in nature, both in Government and in culture among common people. And through Chechen influence, Pakistan can very well establish greater relations with the Russian Federation.
But, on the downside, it can be viewed as Pakistan forcing its way for better relations with Russia. And it can also put Pakistan in a bad lens as Chechen leader is extremely controversial.
Thoughts welcome.
