An issue can be of a personal, local, national or even international concern.
What if the issue is of such gravity that it not only affects you as an individual person, a community, or even a nation but spells danger, havoc and chaos for mankind and humanity itself. Imagine what if the issue under discussion is an act of sabotage equally dangerous and destructive for countries like the United States and United Kingdom as it is for comparatively poor third world countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan. Wait a second, did someone say ‘ equally’ dangerous and destructive?? I indeed am referring to Terrorism, the war on terror and its impact and consequence. Everyone seems to remember the deadly and shocking events of September 11th and July 7th. These events are remembered and even today, a minute of silence is observed in condolence on these days respectively to show solidarity, grit and determination and to convey the message that such incidents are totally uncalled for and ask for decisive action to stop them. In countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan, such tragic events are so frequent and take place nearly every other day. As usually families pack their bags and go for picnics, here, terrorists pack their bombs and go bombing. It’s like as if it’s ‘ the’ new way to “ kill” time.
As our western friends, if we start observing silence in condolence too, believe me, you would hardly see us talking. Such is the frequency of blasts we are witnessing; such is the loss we are bearing. Such acts of terrorism mar countries like Pakistan more than they do any other nation.
We’re lucky if these “ terrorists” decide to take a day off and not explode someday. A commoner in this part of the world gets to listen to a bomb blast as frequently as he/she gets to listen to melodious composition by, for example, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, a legendary Pakistani artist. We, Pakistanis, are ‘ the’ most affected people on this planet, but are we being acknowledged for our sacrifices and losses?? We see our loved ones become victims of such regretful acts almost everyday. Countries like United States and United Kingdom, though victims of terrorism themselves, have had to go through far less compared to Pakistan.
Are they realizing and understanding our situation or are they just funding us to carry on for a cause which is of a global concern but upon closer and deeper insight, it is apparent that they are the beneficiaries of our loss. We might benefit from this struggle too but what about the loss we are bearing in pursuit? In a war casualties are inevitable, but why only us? We are losing for others to benefit. In Europe, America and even in Pakistan, the children aren’t exposed to any thing depicting violence or bloodshed and the government via the censor board’s intervention makes sure that they are not shown what might have a negative impact on an innocent child’s mind and subsequently the child’s growth as a person. But has it ever been taken into account of what the innocent children of countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq are having to go through? The Americans and the Europeans make laws to protect them even to the extent of not showing any violence in graphical form i. . Video games, Cartoons etc. Our innocent children are having to not only witness “ real” and “ destructive” violence, but are actually affected by them directly.
Take a walk around a city like Lahore, Baghdad or Kabul, and ask any kid about a bomb blast, the reply would be shocking to say the least. These terrorists have captivated the innocent minds of the young to such an extent and terrorism is so common that they now know so much about it, one can actually enter into a debate with them. Are these kids any different from those of the “ western” countries? Is the impact of violence and bloodshed on these kids any different from that on children from a country like the USA, France, England or even China? Well, at least it seems that way.
Where do we go? What do we do? Besides being subject to such calamity, the world perceives us as ‘ terrorists’. It is high time people actually realize that we ourselves have had to suffer more than anyone else. By tagging us as terrorists not only hurts but also gives birth to a feeling of not being acknowledged and a feeling that we are being subject to such cruelty and injustice that is inhuman to say the least. We lost lives, our economy is a mess, and no foreign investor is willing to invest in Pakistan. No sporting events take place any more and are shifted to other places due to security concerns. The tourism industry is as good as a rotten egg is for making an omelet. People are scared to leave their houses. Every market, every restaurant, every gas station, every hospital, every school is a potential target.
Even our Mosques aren’t safe anymore. Can the situation possibly be more helpless? We cannot leave our houses; students are made to sit home because some terrorist probably feels like exploding. We cannot study, we cannot Pray, we cannot go out without the fear of being shot or bombed, we leave our houses knowing it might the last time we are getting to do that. We are stopped and interrogated in our own country for ‘ security’ purposes and are asked to identify ourselves. We are looked upon as Terrorists everywhere.
It’s not the government’s fault; it is only doing it to protect us but where are we at fault? We cooperate, we get questioned, we answer and even then it’s we who suffer at the end. We don’t get Visas; we are investigated by immigration officials as if we are members of Al Qaeda. It isn’t our fault some extremists have maligned and damaged our image so badly that we are having to face and bear all this. I don’t think we deserve this treatment. The world must acknowledge that we are the most affected by not only the “ terrorists” but the “ anti terrorists” as well.
At times it feels as if we are locked in a room with no ventilation at all and then asked why we can’t breathe! It’s not our fate to suffer, it surely is not. We deserve to live a fearless life as much as anyone does. Everyone wants to make this world a heaven free from any such inhuman acts but why make it hell for us? We won’t be able to recover the losses suffered; nothing can ever but at least appreciate the effort, realize the importance and acknowledge the significance of our contribution.
Spending money isn’t the same as spending lives. We have spent lives. Terrorism might become history in future but it should never be forgotten that though we benefited too, the world lost money, we lost blood. The world just spent, we earned!
