Remembering Dec 16

Question is: have we learnt our lessons or not? Simple answer could be: No, we have not

December 16 is a day of sorrow and remorse in our national life. Incidentally, the same day, two tragic events took place: Fall of East Pakistan in 1971 and the Army Public School tragedy in 2014. Both these tragedies drive us into deep introspection, and carry valuable lessons to be learnt. The first reminds us as to how we have failed as a nation-state, and the second continues to point out how terror has penetrated deep into our social mosaic.

Recalling the truncation of Pakistan after a miserable civil strife with the then East Pakistanis, and subsequent tale of 93,000 prisoners of war is shocking to this day. It was all because the then civil, military leaderships had blinked somewhere, and was unable to knit the two flanks of the country by overcoming economic disparities, coupled with deep-entrenched cultural and political differences. Similarly, the 2014 killing of some 144 schoolchildren and teachers at the Army Public School in Peshawar is a grim reminder that our foreign policy with regard to the western frontier was an utter failure, and non-state actors were out to bleed the nation at impunity.

The question is: have we learnt our lessons or not? The simple answer could be: No, we have not, and are ironically still busy with experiments. The secession of East Pakistan and the covert role of India was because we had failed to read the sentiments of our Bengali populace, and were not forthcoming in redressing their grievances. Are we still in a similar fate? There should not be any shame in indulging in some deep introspection, and finding answers to critical questions of nation-building and polishing the colourful mosaic of our diversity. The rule of law, adherence to the Constitution, and strengthening of national institutions is the only way to come out strongly from the present-day fissures. Likewise, exterminating the terror nexus, consolidating frontiers and mopping the country of disgruntled elements and abettors is indispensable.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2023.

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