STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan
September 6th was celebrated as the “Day of the Martyrs”, offering the ultimate sacrifice for the Motherland is a blessing. These tales of valor inspire those who stand on guard to protect the nation. The occasion was celebrated with dignity and honor in Rawalpindi and around the country. “Shahadat” and “Jehad fi Sabilillah” are the guiding principles for the men and women in uniform. Their devotion to duty and professionalism provide a sense of security and pride to Pakistanis.
September 6th 1965 is etched in my memory. I remember as a teenager in Lyallpur, the family huddled around the radio to listen to the speech of President Ayub Khan. From today’s standards it was short, yet it inspired the whole nation. Patriotism reached levels never witnessed before. Family elders likened it to the national fervor seen in 1947. Pakistan was under attack by a neighbor five times our size. The spirit of defiance against Indian aggression was unparalleled. Citizens were willing to sacrifice everything to safeguard the motherland.
Indian jets had strafed Lyallpur airport runway near Risalawala on Jhang Road. Word got out that volunteers were needed to help repair the damage. Passionate and charged, our group of friends congregated at the factory of our buddy Sheikh Rafaqat located near the airport. He had arranged shovels and prepared food to take along. When we reached the airport, it was already swarming with thousands of volunteers. We were turned back politely by a young captain. His explanation was convincing. Such huge crowds could attract further attacks!
I have a treasure trove of memories that could fill pages. However, moving on, this misadventure left the aggressors with a bloody nose in West Pakistan. Nevertheless, it sowed seeds of discontent in East Pakistan. The entire focus was to defend the Western borders with few forces deployed on the Eastern front. The feeling of vulnerability by East Pakistanis was exploited by anti Pakistan forces that led to the next confrontation between India and Pakistan in 1971. At that point I was in Punjab University heading the Students’ Union.
December 1971 was an extremely traumatic month in our history. We felt humiliated and Indians were jubilant. Half of the country was severed leading to turmoil that took us years to recover. India had started a proxy war which morphed into an open invasion. It left us licking our wounds under incompetent leadership.
Fifty years on, we have now experienced some sort of redemption. The snickers of 1971 by the Indian media and their leadership have been replaced by the wailing and howling in 2021. Just view their TV channels or social media. It unveils desperate attempts to taint the realities unfolding in Afghanistan. Their spokespersons and anchors either dwell in fantasyland or they have sources no other country in the world has!
They claim Pakistani fighter jets bombed the Panjshir rebellion into submission aided by Special Forces. There is absolutely no independent corroboration from any other source. Indian media is desperately seeking to promote it as a huge conflict. It is not. Panjshiris are brave fighters. This time around, are they resisting because they are free spirited or to protect their control on lucrative emerald mines? The realities of their terrain require reinforcements and supplies for a sustained resistance. They flow through the rugged mountain passes encircling the valley. During Russian resistance their supply line was fed by Pakistanis; when resisting Taliban it was provided by NATO.
None of that is happening now; hence the imbecile anger of the Indian media. Emerald supplies that fed their huge gem market will stop. Adding fuel to fire, Pakistan’s ISI chief landed in Kabul on the invitation of the Taliban. Wide ranging discussions on matters of security of both the countries were discussed. A routine matter amongst nations wanting to work together. CIA chief just concluded his trip to India followed by a visit to Pakistan. In the evolving and fluid situation in the region such meetings are expected. Labeling it as a huge conspiracy or Pakistan’s efforts to dominate the Afghans is nothing but a figment of their imagination.
Pakistani leadership has repeatedly stated that they will be bound by the will of the Afghans. The relationship with Taliban government is of mutual respect amongst equals. Twenty years of resolute struggle against the combined forces of Western powers has matured Taliban leadership to improve the ways they tackle adversity. While keeping their principals, their world view is pragmatic and their priorities are clear. After facing seven decades of multiple hostile regimes in Afghanistan, there are strong possibilities that Pakistan can have friendly neighbors to our West.
It augurs well for the entire region. Reduced tensions, greater security and improved trade and commerce benefit everyone. Then what is India’s problem? Despite dominating the Afghan intelligence for twenty years they could hardly muster a handful of demonstrators in Kabul shouting “Death to Pakistan”.
That is not the best way forward for India. Pakistanis harbor no ill-will against Indians. In fact I have many close friends amongst them. The Indian Government needs to re-think their hostility towards Pakistan. It will benefit common people on both sides. Change in Afghanistan must register with them. It is imperative sooner than later that they resolve the simmering issue of Kashmir according to the will of the Kashmiris. Barrel of a gun does not resolve disputes; it is through discussions around a table with the stakeholders.
