Seeing
chronological list of Army shu'hu'daa, on black marble - slab after slab,
growing in numbers and seemingly never-ending…..My heart was overcome by a
strange feeling like it missed a few beats and the lungs unable to pump air.Blood
in my veins stopped and my body gone cold as if my rib cage was crushed under a
ton of ice. My eyes filled up and my cheeks gone wet with tears as if I had
been crying for hours. I was born and bred in an Army household that had an
unwritten law that boys don’t cry as if our nerves were made of steel. But,
today I felt something totally different – something totally out of my control
– either I would have shed those tears or my heart would have exploded with
grief. In those few seconds, as if my subconscious replayed the thousands of
hours’ worth of good and bad thoughts and memories I wish I could share with
everyone. But, I can’t as it could take years to be transferred to words. But
still, I would try to summarize for some generous readers who continued to read
on.
I recall scenes from historical dramas showing
the final moments of our Nishan-e-Haider martyrs and more recently the
national-flag cladded coffins of fallen warriors from recent decades of
anti-terrorist operations across the length and breadth of Pakistan. The
funerals of shu’hu’daa where their father, mother, son or widow receive the
folded flag and medals of their martyred beloved. With mixed feelings and yet
bravely holding back their tears. Reiterating their love for motherland; sons
holding their head high and reaffirming their desire to follow the footsteps of
their father - widows expressing and supporting the desire of (possibly) the
only son(s) joining Army and laying down life for the country. Maybe some proud
parents rejoicing the shahadat of their beloved son – and saying out loud - if
they had more sons they would have been in Army too, fighting for the country
and embracing shahada and joining their brother in heaven.
So heartwarming and so pure are the words of
such brave people of Pakistan. People like you and me – people wanting to live
ordinary peaceful and worry-free lives in the comfort of their homes. Yet, they
end up being the brave ones in the capacity of either the service-men or their
brave families. Those, who are ready to give up everything and take a road that
is ridden with so many crossings and no guarantees which crossing could either
lead to death or disability.
Yet the number of our armed forces servicemen
never goes down. So many high-school grads appear for the ISSB and entrance
exams for military service - year on year. Some countries in the World have to
initiate expensive recruiting campaigns - yet still unable to attract the
required numbers of candidates to join the forces. But, in our homeland it is a
tough competition to get a chance to join the ranks of lucky ones who get
selected to serve the country. Yet there are scores of others who don’t make it
- with long faces for not getting the honor.
In most parts of the World, those who are
unable to make it for other professions join military services. But, in our
country those who do not make it to any armed forces join other professions.
That is what made us the invincible country even with such lack of wealth and
resources. It’s the heart of these men and women that
makes us what we are today…..A
strong and free nation
Yet,
with much more grief than any other pain I have ever known in my life. It is
the torture brought upon by some ill-informed and misguided lost-souls. Those who lack the judgement and a purpose in
life - who have no passion of belonging and love of a nation. Those with hearts
covered in darkness and their souls enslaved by a shrewd enemy who masquerades
as their friends – such are actually the enemies of Pakistan who portray as if
they are fixing something broken in Pakistan.
Yet they bang against an iron wall every time.
A wall formed by the defenders of Pakistan who are not afraid of anything –
even death thinks twice before it attempts to face them. The real enemy:
For decades, all possible attempts have been
made by our enemies to weaken the defenses of Pakistan. But to no avail.
Finally, they found a weakness – not from outside attacks but attempting to rot
the walls from within. So the shrewd and sneaky enemy is finding weaklings who
are exposed and easy targets – who can be easily brainwashed and entered into
our society like wet logs that serve no purpose but to weaken or eventually
destroy the flame.
Yes, wet logs who have nothing constructive to
do except for conjuring white steam and smoke in the form of hate speech and
baseless propaganda against Pakistan Army. Some propaganda schemes are
masterminded so brilliantly and orchestrated by these traitors so brilliantly
that it appears as if Army may be at fault. But, I would still continue to
support Army and request these wet-logs (they are smart enough to know who I am
pointing out) to rethink their position. Its time to decide if they are with
Pakistan or against Pakistan.
They must stop visualizing the situation with
the glasses that their masters put on their eyes. They have to start trying to
think like real Pakistanis. They must look at the bigger picture and realize
the fragile position Pakistan is in right now. They must come out of their
foolish little shells and stop participating in efforts to destroy this castle
from within. They must realize that they won’t exist if there is any danger to
Pakistan. istan without a strong Army.
They must realize and understand the situation
that people of war-torn countries are now facing or the situation that we could
have possibly faced if we were not citizens of majority Muslim Pakistan but a
small minority in Hindustan ruled over by some Hindu maharaja. More recently,
imagine the terrorists (that have now been defeated by Army) if they had taken
control and dealt with people like you and me in the same way they treat people
in war-torn countries. Living under fear of being beheaded or worst being their
slave.
Always remember – it’s only because of the
Army and its servicemen that we are still breathing fresh and free air of
Pakistan. If they wouldn’t have fought those tough battles what would have been
our Present and Future. Just think about this reality alone – before you even
think of saying a single word about Pak Army.
Credit:
Emad A Masoud
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