Rejection and disproval

By ambassador Abdul Mahmoud Abdul Haleem

The reactions of rejection, disapproval and astonishment that accompanied revealing the secret meetings in Manama between Lieutenant General Al Kabashi and Daglo made it clear to what extent we are still at the stage of sword dual, facing each other in the open, man to man
We are still at the stage of this culture of wiping each other, the culture of brutality and severe flogging each other in public to demonstrate manhood… War usually happens when the engines of diplomacy break down and we have the saying that diplomacy is war by other means.
Usually, in all conflicts and wars, what is called backdoor diplomacy, becomes active. There is no situation of war or conflict that is devoid of covert contacts far from preying eyes of the cameras and monitoring sensors. The United States met with the Taliban and conducted and is holding meetings with movements and organizations that it classifies as terrorist or sponsor of terrorism, and India is talking secretly with the Kashmiris and the government in Sri Lanka had contacts in foreign capitals with the Tamil Tigers, which led to the defection of Koruna, one of its senior leaders, along with thousands of warriors. This marked the beginning of the end before the government was able to crush and defeat the Tamil Tamil Tigers.
While in prison in Robben Island, Mandela and his ANC party had meetings and contacts with the leaders of the Apartheid regime in Pretoria before that racist regime was uprooted. We also witness that many of our neighboring countries have contacts and meetings through back doors with rebel movements active in their countries, and sometimes our country had facilitated many in the past. From such meetings… in the immediate and distant neighbourhood, and in all scenes of back-door diplomacy, the military build-up and aspects of media and popular mobilization continue.
What matters is the conclusion, and in order to achieve your desired goals, there is nothing wrong with saving time to meet your opponent in a well-air-conditioned hall before your tanks clash in the field. Through serious negotiation, you can help in achieving what would have been difficult except by fierce fighting… Remember the story: somebody went to hunt a rabbit and he came out with a whole elephant.