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Our unsung heroes
Amjad Malik Writes specially on the escalating violence in Pakistan
Peshawar blast greeted Hillary Clinton, The foreign Secretary of United States on her 3 days visit to Pakistan in October with over 100 coffins full of bodies of young and old , male, female Pakistanis as part of the regional collateral damage, which shows the tenacity of the situation and the nature of the sacrifice Pakistanis are making for Americano War. On one hand soldiers are dying day in day out in Waziristan and on the other brain washed extremists are blowing themselves up for a lost cause as suicidal attacks are not only un Islamic but their lives are being lost for nothing, but who will tell them, the Mullah who is stinking with ignorance and greed, or politicians who are not different to them either, if not worse.
But today I wish for those ordinary soldiers who are fighting in the terrains of Pakistan and or Afghanistan. Those fine young men and women of high class training and professionalism are going to this war in order to safeguard us, the public and the country. Decisions of war are made by the politicians but the aftermath of such decisions are borne by commoners, the families of those soldiers who either receive their loved one’s relived of their duties due to an injury or they lose their loved ones and get their body bags. Its the most painful experience of which almost every city and town in Pakistan is confronted with a situation like this. Wars are won and lost on account of the bravery of your army with the support of people and on account of visionary leaders. Our leadership flaws are not only visible at national and international scene but regrettably their weaker performance is meagre, and shameful looking at their stance and reasoning on ‘KLB (Kerry Lugar Bill). USA insults on injury by saying, take it or leave it, choice is yours.
We must not forget those who are dying every day for the country . Whether they are commandos who knowing fully well went into GHQ to rescue those kidnapped and martyred whilst eliminating the threat or those police men at Lahore who combated bravely during a series of calculated ambush at training centre and intelligence head quarters in the Provincial capital. Without doubt those are real unsung heroes of modern times who deserve fair recognition, compensation to their families and freedom medals so that our future generation(s) know that when time came these fine gentlemen laid their lives to secure the future of our children.
Without going to the legality and rational of such decisions, those at war deserve applause to have been fighting a difficult war where enemy is not visible, threat is imminent & present but no warning and so far no pre warning equipment of a suicide attacker. Operation in Waziristan is in full swing and army is making some progress, but if this operation is truly to be translated a success on paper, the follow up ground work must be completed now. Alienating Pakistani Pashtuns from criminals, then Taliban and Al-Qaeda through a political process, and a dialogue, and development is to be followed by the operation.
USA is already talking about bringing Afghan Talibs on board who wish to renounce their naturalisation with Al-Qaeda and severe their links. Regionally we must foster an atmosphere where Pashtuns are visibly represented at a future set up in Afghanistan so that their voice may be presented at apolitical forum and manning 2500 kilometre border with Afghanistan must be the key question for dialogue between NATO, US and Pakistan.
Pakistan and the region is amidst fierce fighting of minds and souls. Different experiments are ongoing but one thing is for sure that we ain’t winning yet, and stalemate is not acceptable to us and to the west. Unless western world prides the operational success of Pak Army in Swat and aid the army and civil administration with full trust and share intelligence to clear the area and they barter help for NATO in bordering areas of Afghanistan in exchange of a viable civil and political structure which takes shape with the representation of Pashtuns along with the visible military presence as a monitor and deterrent, if not, I am afraid we all will continue fighting little wars of our own. And it ain’t over yet, and not finishing soon.
Radicalisation through criminal activity is aiding and abetting terrorism in the region and as West considers themselves short term players, therefore they are not keeping an eye on the long term objectives in front of them. Long term stake holder are quietly fighting their duel and every day we are listening stories of our heroes saving many lives by sacrificing their own lives, though the perpetrators are sometimes, if not often are aided by no other than ‘the neighbours’. Hats off to them whose family member(s) are fighting for the country and whose eyes are watery and hearts on the Televisions breaking news. Any one incident, any one ambush and any one attack may bring the bad news to them . They live and die every moment day in day out. Those people are fighting the war minute by minute, and their families with them. We must not forget them, especially those who are amongst collateral damage, the innocent civilians who are caught in cross fire or soldiers who lost their limbs whilst passing through unknown mines. They are not politicians, they are normal soldiers standing in front of bare guns facing the looming threat and they volunteer their chest(s) before danger comes to us and our children. Hats off to them and their families, they are our heroes, they are our protectors and they are our soldiers who knows nothing but to safeguard every inch of its soil without greed or lust. They are our unsung unknown heroes, common, unknown soldiers, lets celebrate that we are in safe hands.
Amjad Malik, is a Solicitor-Advocate Supreme Court of England
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