Since the last few years, we annually commemorate Yaum-e-Shuhadha on 30th April to pay homage to our martyrs who laid their lives in war against terrorism. After the US invasion of Afghanistan, when Pakistan Army moved into FATA and Waziristan areas, it has been almost a decade.
In 2008, the army had to be deployed in Swat, where the situation was brought under control after three years of fierce counterinsurgency operations. In this war against terrorism, thousands of Pakistanis sacrificed their lives. The martyrs included members of armed forces, Frontier Corps and Constabulary, Police, leaders and workers of political parties and innocent civilians. Despite the achievements of the resilient armed forces and sacrifices made by our valiant soldiers, the end is not visible. There is a need to identify the causes and find remedies.
This war has caused pervasive damage to Pakistan in many spheres loss of precious human lives, erosion of writ of the government, damaged social fabric, devastated economy, smeared image of a society deemed earlier as tolerant, low national morale, serious damage to public property the list is endless. Despite the above started issues, there still exists a doubt in the society whether this is our war? Many political leaders and religious luminaries hold a view that we are fighting America’s war. We must remember that whatever is happening in Afghanistan is a larger issue therefore without taking refuge in those complexities we must look inwards to find homegrown solution to our own problems. It must be appreciated that on one hand our armed forces and other law enforcement agencies are fighting against these terrorists to establish the writ of the state, whereas on the other hand we continue to cast doubts on their Herculean efforts.
How can these soldiers continue to fight and lay their lives in the line of duty if they remain devoid of national support? How can we ignore that terrorists are often funded by foreign sources, with an agenda to destabilize Pakistan, for their ulterior motives. Under the garb of religion, they are spreading extremism and intolerance in the society. It is no rocket science to see that these elements are enemies of our country, sponsored by forces inimical to Pakistan, who have resorted to sub conventional warfare.
How do we deal with people who take law in their own hands, do not respect or accept the constitution of the country and try to impose their own distorted extremist views on the masses through rampant violence? Is there any justification whatsoever for attacking the armed forces, security establishments and innocent civilians? There should be no confusion and doubt in treating them as anti state elements. Regretfully the lack of unanimity in the Pakistani society has encouraged their liberty of action. Pakistani citizens are suffering continuously. Our next generation has literally grown under a combatant shadow of fear. Instead of a useless debate on the validity of war against terror, it is in our interest to join hands against these terrorists. We must remove the ambiguity by shunning this duplicity and state of denial. In order to fight this enemy, each and every Pakistani, without any segregation of political, ethnic or sectarian preference, must forge an alliance to rid the society of this menace.
These terrorists justify and try to impose their ideology in the name of Islam. But their agenda has nothing to do with the religion itself. Muslims do not attack each other’s mosques and kill innocent people including women and children.
Islam has never propagated the elimination of non-Muslims instead they have always supported peaceful co-existence. Islam is a religion of peace, love and harmony. Pakistan is our motherland we want it to be the safest place on earth not only for us but for our children as well. The sacrifice of martyrs who have laid their lives fighting and protecting the motherland should not go waste by casting doubts and wondering who is attacking Pakistan. Mustering all resources, which includes operations by armed forces, the tirade of print and electronic media, duly supported by national resolve, we will endure this tough test of time InshaAllah and emerge victorious and prosperous. Long live Pakistan.

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