Thirty nine years ago on this date, the Yom Kippur War or the Ramazan War (as the Muslims like to call it) was fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab states lead by Egypt and Syria. It is commemorated in Egypt and Syria especially and remembered as a day on which the Arab states achieved level ground with the state of Israel.

It is a day to remember all those who lost their lives in this conflict and to pay homage to them. However it is also important to understand the significance of this historical event. This event led to a change in the power play in the Arab world. For the state of Israel it was the first serious military challenge. A significant result was the Camp David Accords which brought both parties together at a platform as equals to discuss and arrive at a peaceful settlement of the region. The Palestinian question came to the forefront of world politics as a result and continues to exist till today.

The war had significant consequences for the region, the Muslim states and the world at large. For the first time, the Arabs used oil as a political weapon against the US and other Western states in support of Israel. Moreover for the Muslim world it served as an impetus for a resurgence of their identity and unity. It was also a boost for their morale as they realized their strength and quelled the myth about Israeli invincibility. For Pakistan particularly the event had long-lasting economic beneficence. The door of the Gulf countries opened for migrant labor from Pakistan and this has earned us considerable remittances and continues to do so till today.

Today it is important to realize that although thirty nine years have passed however the Palestinian issue has yet not been solved. The Israeli atrocities on the Palestinians are condemned worldwide and the United Nations has yet not been able to achieve considerable success on this front due to the domination of the Western powers particularly the US. Nevertheless it is important to remember the spirit of the Camp David Accords and to realize that dialogue and cooperation by both sides is essential and the only way to bring peace not just in the region but on the global front as well.