Travel banCitizens of 7 travel-ban Muslim countries never implicated in mass killings in U.S.: Experts
On Friday President Donald Trump imposed a travel ban to the United States of citizens from seven Muslim countries —- Syria, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen. Security experts note that citizens of these seven countries have so far never been implicated in mass killings in the United States. The major terrorist groups that have attacked the United States and other Western countries — al Qaeda, the Taliban, and ISIS — trace their roots to other Sunni such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Qatar.
On Friday President Donald Trump imposed a travel ban to the United States of citizens from seven Muslim countries —- Syria, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen.
Security experts note that citizens of these seven countries have so far never been implicated in mass killings in the United States. The major terrorist groups that have attacked the United States and other Western countries — al Qaeda, the Taliban, and ISIS — trace their roots to other Sunni such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Qatar.
DW’s Shamil Shams interviewed Arif Jamal, a scholar of Islamic extremism and author of Call For Transnational Jihad: Lashkar-e-Taiba, 1985-2014 and Shadow War: The Untold Story of Jihad in Kashmir.
Jamal said it was too early to evaluate Trump’s executive order, but that the United States cannot win the war against radical Islam as long as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are its allies.
DW: While Saudi nationals were involved in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the recent killings on U.S. soil — the Orlando and San Bernardino shootings — were perpetrated by people of Afghan and Pakistani origin. Why did President Trump exempt these countries from the executive order?
Arif Jamal: It is too early and very difficult to evaluate President Trump’s strategy. Although the U.S. media is claiming that Trump spared these countries because he has business ties with them, this may only be true for Saudi Arabia. He has no investments in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
I believe he didn’t put Afghanistan on the list because it would have created a lot of problems for U.S. troops and other Americans working in the war-torn country. It is obvious that the Afghan government would have stopped cooperating with Washington if he had made such a move. Pakistan’s case is different, and I think Trump is in the process of formulating a comprehensive policy for the Islamic country.
But one thing is pretty clear. The United States cannot win the war against Islamism as long as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are its allies.
DW: It seems the new U.S. president’s geopolitical alliances in the Middle East and South Asia are not much different from his predecessors, Barack Obama and George W. Bush. Do you agree with this assessment?
Jamal:Again, I think it is too early to make this judgment. Trump is definitely revisiting the Obama administration’s policy on Iran. On the other hand, in the current situation, Iraq can hardly be called a U.S. ally.
However, reports suggest that President Trump is seeking Russia’s help to coordinate policies against the IS terror outfit. If that becomes reality, it would be a whole new game. But it would be very difficult for Trump to be too close to Moscow as there is strong opposition against such a move in the United States. But in my view, it is impossible to defeat radical Islam without Russia’s help.
DW: Why is Trump reluctant to be tough on Pakistan and Saudi Arabia? What makes the US relations with Islamabad and Riyadh special?
Jamal:I think President Trump will be tougher on Pakistan in the coming weeks and months. However, the same cannot be said about Saudi Arabia. But I would reiterate that Washington cannot defeat radical Islam and jihadist groups if it refuses to take strong actions against Saudi Arabia.
DW: Will Pakistan and Saudi Arabia be now emboldened in their alleged support for radical Islamists knowing that Trump has excluded them from a direct ban?
Jamal:Neither Pakistan nor Saudi Arabia see an ally in Trump. In fact, no Muslim-majority country is friendly towards him. This is the reason why Muslims from all over the world are taking part in anti-Trump demonstrations. These are the same Muslims who hardly take to the streets to protest against Islamists or their own governments.
DW: How will Trump’s obvious anti-Iran stance impact the Sunni-Shiite sectarian strife in the Middle East and Pakistan?
Jamal: If Washington and Moscow forge an alliance in the battle against IS, Trump will have to soften his position on Iran. It will also help reduce sectarian tensions in the Middle East and South Asia. But the visa ban on seven Muslim-majority countries shouldn’t be seen as a comprehensive policy on the Muslim world. So far, Trump has only acted to unite his supporters — white supremacists and Christian fundamentalists. We shouldn’t read more into it.
