From a soldier’s father

RAWALPINDI: Following is a letter written by the father of an army officer, martyred in the war against terror. It is worth reading: “Dear friends: My son was martyred yesterday. I do not cry in his memory but rather I cry because he died for a cause that no one appreciates. He served his time away from his family, in harsh cold winters in mountainous terrain up north in his beloved Pakistan. He was only 25 years old. He was hit in a crossfire with the enemy as he protected my country’s borders. He had a daughter who just turned three months old. And he leaves behind a wife who has no more tears to shed.

“He was my faithful son. He had no tears as he felt the pain of death in his veins. He had no regret as he lay waiting for death, the image of this beautiful daughter Imaan in front of his eyes, the laughter of his wife in his ears, the duas of his mother in his memories and the loving kiss from his father on his cheeks. He smiled as he saw the angels of death come to take away his soul. He knew this is why he was born, to serve his nation, to die for his people. He smiled as he took his last breath and read the Kalima.

“His body came to me draped in green and white — my son’s favourite colours. He had told me that he wanted to die for his nation. This was the son I taught how to stand and walk and now he has showed me and the rest of my countrymen and women how to lift their heads up high with pride. Imaan will grow up without a father because her Abbu chose nation over life. Her Abbu will not be there to watch her grow up, take her to school or find her a suitable groom. All she gets is a cheque from the government thanking her father for his contribution to Pakistan.”

Whenever you talk about the armed forces of Pakistan, think of Imaan and hundreds like her, who lose their parents because they want to ensure that you are able to sleep peacefully at night.

Alya Alvi

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2012.