The Year of the Soldier

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The Year of the Soldier


Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani has declared 2008 as ‘the Year of the Soldier’. The main aim is to praise and salute the courage, determination and sacrifices of the soldiers besides providing them with better living conditions by contributing maximum towards their welfare. This step is very encouraging because soldiers are the backbone of the armed forces. It is our brave and dauntless soldiers who are fighting on borders and sacrificing their lives to protect Pakistan from any possible hazard. Keeping in view the present situation in the country, our brave soldiers are fighting a war against the terrorist, they are facing all kinds of weather extremities and other hardships but despite all the hurdles they are focused and fully motivated to present their life in order to safeguard the honour and dignity of the motherland.
Our soldiers have always played a pivotal role regarding the service of the nation. They have served the nation in both good and bad times. History is filled with incidents of 65, 71 and Kargil war, which speak volumes of the contribution of soldiers for their country and their people. These brave soldiers were and still are the ones who do not allow the enemy even an inch inside our homeland. Nothing can weaken their faith in God Almighty or their love for the country because they believe in the fact that we are because of Pakistan. When the country receives heavy rains and flood, people get stranded and their life and property gets in extreme danger. Take one example of chaotic flood in Rawalpindi in 2001. The soldiers not only evacuated thousands of residents but also saved 3800 injured, who were caught under the debris of collapsed buildings. They were actively involved in removing the filth and dirt on the street so as to stop the spread of epidemics. Similar selfless efforts were witnessed when flood hit Thatta and Badin, thousands of people were rescued, and food and free medical facilities were provided. I consider mentioning the earthquake 2005 a must because when the catastrophe struck almost all the northern area was in rubbles. It was again our soldiers who in spite of suffering huge losses themselves came to the rescue. They worked day and night in order to provide the homeless with shelter and provide them with food. They went on foot to those valleys which were not accessible by any other means in order to rebuild homes for the natives. Many soldiers lost their lives during the rescue operations. They have brought a difference in the lives of those people who were left with just sky above their head and earth beneath their feet, our soldiers constructed makeshift houses, hospitals, schools for the affectees. Cleaning of canals, setting up of medical camps, educational facilities in remote areas, express way project, provision of basic facilities to FATA are few other examples of the services that are being provided to the nation with the help of soldiers.
The cause of enlisting all these activities and services is to remind ourselves of the fact that soldiers have always been there when we have called for help. They ask for nothing in return of their services as in today’s world everything comes at a price. But I believe that the comfort and care provided by a soldier is priceless. They are so motivated and committed to the call of duty that they are eve ready to risk everything they possess.
Our soldier is guarding the sea and the borders. They remain away from their families for long period of time due to exigencies of service. A soldier is a man of flesh and blood too; he is a father, a husband, a son, a brother etc. But keeping all this aside he is proud to guard his country. They face extreme climatic conditions during the course of duty as in Siachen and its suburbs. Siachen is the worlds highest battle ground, at these dizzying heights, peril is omnipresent. Soldiers choke to death from blood and fluid in their lungs get buried alive beneath tons of ice as the temperature falls low tremendously.
But they are determined to guard their motherland and provide peace and safety to its people at the cost of their own lives. Another example is of FATA, Waziristan and Swat where our soldiers, are fighting a war against the terrorists. Every other day we hear of an ambush on Military convoys resulting in deaths of so many soldiers what we have in return for the ones who have given their lives for our safety! Nothing not even a word of praise or appreciation. Have we ever thought that their loved ones were waiting for their safe arrival; so many happy homes are destroyed for ever with the death of these soldiers. Not to talk of any help, their brave acts are not even acknowledged. These soldiers are the ones who are in dire need of attention. This step of dedicating a whole year for the living standards and the welfare of soldiers who are sacrificing their days and nights in order to guard and protect us from any possible hazard, is a ray of hope in the otherwise bleak situation. If we talk about the family life of these soldiers who always put up a brave front in spite of all the troubles that they are facing, they live away from their families and get to see them once in four or five months and if they are posted in hard areas then its even difficult to go home on deaths and marriages in the family. Talking of their pay, it’s not even enough to make both ends meet and to put it in other words it’s not even enough to compensate for even one day of the dedication, strength and devotion of the soldier that he holds for safeguarding his country and his people. If our soldiers are given facilities that they deserve, their moral can be further raised and if they are satisfied that their children are clothed, fed and can get medical care easily, this will enhance their capabilities and performance.
To cut the long story short I would like to mention the fact that the tarnished image of the soldiers also needs to be redressed. It needs to be conveyed to our people that these soldiers are working for us and that their presence is a must for our safety; we need to realize the fact that these soldiers are a source of comfort, help and care for us; they have done so much for us in the past and are still doing a lot. We also owe them love, care, respect and appreciation for their deeds, because this is the maximum that they desire in return of their services. It is the responsibility of the nation to acknowledge the services of the soldiers and give them their share of appreciation in order to boost their morale and to convey the feelings of love and respect let us hope that year proves to be a year when the soldiers will start a new life with improved standards of living and with greater support and backing of the public will get all the things they are deserving of.

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