Eminent scholar sheds light on US interests in Middle East.

KARACHI -- The global powers had plundered the Middle East region, rich in mineral resources, leaving the people helpless, said renowned scholar Professor Dr Talat A. Wizarat here on Thursday.

She was the keynote speaker at a seminar, which was organised by the Department of International Relations, University of Karachi (KU) on the topic, 'The current state of Iran-U.S relations: Implications for Pakistan.'

Professor Wizarat, who is also the former chairperson of the Department of International Relations (KU), began her address by an anecdotal remark regarding her time as a student at KU as well as a professor. She insisted that the topic was of immense importance, considering regional implications. She said the coup against Mossadegh, who had nationalized the oil fields owned by Western companies, was planned and the CIA overthrew him and reinstalled the Shah of Iran.

'The shooting down of an Iranian air flight by the US Navy, in which Pakistan's Military Attache to Iran had lost his entire family, was a clear violation of the international law,' she said, and added, 'The United States of America desires regime change in many countries like they did in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. They then diverted their attention to Syria, which resulted in a civil war. Iran became a hurdle to US plans in Syria, alongside Russia which was a big blow to the American interests.'

She was of the view that in order to understand the US actions, its designs and objectives in the region, we have to look at the past and recent developments in the region. She stated that another goal was to break up the states in the region.

'They are doing this by virtue of promoting sectarian and ethnic conflicts, thereby weakening the states from within. Turkey's importance in the region is another concern for the West. After 2023, all restrictions on Turkey will be removed and it will have a clear path to re-emerge as a prominent player in the region,' Professor Wizarat prophesied.

She reiterated that the resources of the region were of immense importance. She observed that the game in the region was to stop the growth of China by...