Recently, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, in his Independence Day speech at Kakul, said that the war against terrorism is our own war and we are right in fighting it. While showing illogical approach, some media elements have tried to prove as if war against terrorism is Gen Kayani’s personal war, being fought on behalf of the US. Unfortunately, these elements are ignorant of the fact that the country has been turned into a killing field with thousands of people becoming victims of terrorism and sectarian and religion based violence. Even mosques, shrines and other places of worship are not spared. Pakistan has lost over 40,000 of its citizens, including over 5,000 military personnel, to acts of terror. It is important to mention here that militants have declared a war against Pakistan and its people. The only choice before us is to fight or to surrender to the armed militants who seek to push Pakistan into the dark ages. No state can maintain its sovereignty if it allows armed militias to impose their will on the people through brute force.
Pakistan is indeed a hotbed of conspiracies and machinations. The CIA sponsored unabated media campaign smacks of maliciousness and absurdity is meant to target Pakistan’s state organs, particularly the leadership of the military and Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). This is part of US and Indian plan to defame these institutions of Pakistan, so that, they do not resist the US demands and also stop opposing Indian entrenchment in Afghanistan. Pakistani scholars, academia and above all its most powerful media need to understand these conspiracies and rather singing their songs, should counter these propagandas. As a nation we must respect our institutions as armed forces are custodians of Pakistan’s security ensuring timely measures to thwart any internal/external threats.
ANZA KANWAL
Rawalpindi
