Our countrymen are being purchased. becoming mercenaries because we did not care for them.
ISLAMABAD: May God bless the youngsters who sacrificed their lives in the PNS Mehran attack, and protect their loved ones who will dearly miss the departed. This is also for all our servicemen and civilians who have lost their lives or have been injured in this unnecessary decade of violence.
I was taught that a just war is one where you defend against an aggressor. What Nato and its allies are doing thousands of miles from home is not a just war. I dislike the social effect of the Afghan Taliban ideology but do recognise the just nature of their and the mujahideen resistance. The groups labelled as the TTP (Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan) should be helping the resistance in Pakistan. Their violence against Pakistan is unjust and not supportable under Islamic injunctions.
In our mad rush for pelf we have left many of our countrymen behind in poverty. It is our failure that their families’ only source of livelihood is from their becoming mercenaries at the cost of their lives. Their lives are being purchased because we did not care for them. The true source of terrorism lies in us. We cannot continue on this path of failure. We need to unite and chart a course for the prosperity of every man woman and child of Pakistan. That will only be possible when there is peace at home and peace abroad. We are trying in our own way. Those in the media have the power of moulding public opinion. They should use it for the right and just cause.
Fasih BokhariO
Former chief of naval staff (1997-99)
Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2011.
