75 years of worst administration

Since the dawn of civilisation, humans have grappled with the concepts of war and peace. They began to form communities in order to live longer and safer lives. The desire to destroy others and maximise power was always a man’s dream, and it was the driving force behind invasions, expansionism, brutality, barbarianism and colonialism. With the invention of gunpowder, human mechanisms and brutality have reached new heights. Long guns, missiles, unconventional warfare, jets and tanks were among the new armaments at that time. All of those weapons make wars more painful and bloody.

When atomic weapons were employed in World War II, humanity was defeated. For superpowers that were not satisfying, they began testing the hydrogen bomb, which was more powerful and more dangerous than the atom bomb. Following the 9/11 attacks, the world witnessed a fresh wave of harassment, wars, ethnic and religious divisions and state terrorism. Pakistan became a victim of this upheaval due to its strategic location. Pakistan has suffered state terrorism from its neighbouring countries since its independence, and as a result, the government has been preoccupied with dealing with internal and external problems for the past 75 years. Despite the incident having occurred in the US, it heightened tensions in Pakistan. Because Pakistan was aiding the Taliban diplomatically, and offering moral support to the then-Mullah Umar administration, the Taliban were disappointed when Pakistan joined the US-led war on terror.

It was a prudent diplomatic and strategic decision because the US was a superpower and a fledgling country like Pakistan could not afford to compromise its relations with the US. As a result of the shift in foreign policy, Pakistan has earned recognition. The pivot in our foreign policy from aiding the Taliban and mujahidin to opposing their operations aided the emergence of Fourth Generation Warfare in Pakistan. It was the US war on terror, but because we were supported and aided by the US, we became an ally. And the battleground shifted from the US to Pakistan. As a result, Pakistan became and continues to be the victim of a never-ending 4GW.

Pakistan’s foes capitalised on this maneuver, using the religious segment’s sentiments. In response, this unconventional battle targeted helpless children, vulnerable mothers and innocent people. All around the country, there are several independent, highly uncontrollable, violent, projected, trained and sadistic militant organisations at work — under the auspices of various Jihadist, sectarian, ethnic, nationalist and political organisations. Armed militants from TTP and its many extreme groups, Al-Qaeda, TNSM, LeJ, BLA, BRA, BLF and others are aiming to destabilise Pakistan through brutal criminal activities. According to reports, ISIS extremists and dangerous militants are also attempting to organise in Pakistan.

Pakistan has become the 4GW’s most severe victim. Rather than discussing nomenclature and morphology, Pakistan should focus on the shared aim and singularity of its goal. Pakistan has faced many forms of threats from countries all over the world, notably from bordering countries, since its existence. Since Pakistan was the first country to be acquired in the name of Islam, all anti-Islam forces sought to slander it and declare it a failed state. Anti-Pakistan forces were strong players in the division of Bengal. In 1971, India used the 4GW tactic in a limited fashion by militarily aiding Mukti Bahini separatists in then-East Pakistan in their bid to separate from the rest of the country. Nonetheless, the neighbouring country has a significant role in developing racial, ethnic and religious disputes, providing military, financial and administrative support to separatist groups like BLA, TTP and other violent organisations.

Pakistan has long accused India of aiding and orchestrating insurgency and turmoil, particularly in Balochistan. Apparently, these sponsored jihadist forces are attempting to weaken the Islam’s fort while fighting against the world’s only Muslim nuclear and military power. Indeed, a huge violent and planned insurrection involving thousands of terrorists cannot be launched and sustained without enormous logistical and technological support from outside sources. The purported jihadists and separatists who have already armed themselves against Pakistan are nothing more than hit-men and hired agents of anti-Pakistan groups. Their genuine identities were exposed following the APS Peshawar tragedy.

It is unavoidable to work on resolving internal conflicts. We are still waiting to become a nation after 75 years. This ambition will not be realised until and unless the government treats every citizen and province equally. It is critical to listen to the problems and attempt to fix them. The Punjabi establishment and dominancy have harmed Pakistani unity in every way. Throughout these 75 years, Karachi, Pakistan’s backbone, has suffered as a result of this political competition. The quota system, joblessness, a lack of infrastructure, damaged roads, antiquated public transportation, and most importantly, the murder of meritocracy have rendered this magnificent city vulnerable. The situation in rural Sindh, Balochistan KPK, and rural Punjab is deplorable.

The rich political elite has shown no interest in upgrading their level of living; their own children are studying overseas, but their voters’ children do not even have access to basic education. Small cottage industries and innovative agricultural methods of farming can help them improve their current status. New dams constitute a basic need in many provinces, but the establishment and political establishment are preoccupied with their own confrontation politics. Flooding and torrential rains have completely destroyed their houses and farmland, but we are all preoccupied with political debates. This is a critical time to work for our people otherwise our enemies have already exploited our internal flaws and are ready to exploit the emotions of our innocent people once more. Please wake up!

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2022.

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