Pakistan, Fight Back

Why is there so much commotion about the attack on the GHQ in Pakistan? Come on, please; did we not know that the Taliban are a threat to everything Pakistan?

Regretfully, there is still support for the Taliban in the country. I was watching Ijaz-Ul-Haq, son of Zia, one of the worst dictators in Pakistan’s history argue on TV that the government should not launch any offensive against the Taliban. Instead, he argued, shamelessly, that Pakistan should not fight America’s war. Before I get to Ijaz’s despicable argument, I must say a word about the role of media in Pakistan.

I don’t understand why is (electronic) media in Pakistan determined to support the Taliban? I mean, if the producers, or the anchors working for TV Channels in Pakistan don’t like the United States, fine, they are entitled to their opinion. But to deliberately destroy, or support those who are attacking Pakistan from within, just because America is engaged in battle with the Taliban or the followers of Osama is something that the country must not accept.

Make no mistake about it – this is not America’s war.

Specifically, the army must take notice of the hate that is being spewed on TV Channels in Pakistan instead of supporting Pak Army’s effort to defeat the Taliban and to save the country from falling into the hands of the Taliban.

It is Pakistan that is under attack and the country must not allow the Taliban or their supporters and apologists, especially in the media (electronic and Urdu press) to misguide Pakistanis by confusing the barbaric attacks on Pakistan as America’s war, please.

Imagine if India had attacked the GHQ. Would the country still argue that this is America’s war? What if India had launched a war against Pakistan Army in Swat and Waziristan? Would the country still demand that America leave Afghanistan instead of taking on the Indians? No of course not, the country would come together to fight and save itself from annihilation and that is exactly what is needed today. Pakistanis need to fight against the Taliban, just like they would fight against any other aggression against Pakistan.

Now, let me say a word about Ijaz, son of Zia, a brutal dictator and Asia’s first Taliban. Ijaz and other right wingers do have the right to present argue whatever they want. Even though, during Zia’s time, people were locked up for years just because they were reading (not saying anything, just reading, believe me, not making it up) a poster, or a book that advocated freedom of expression, democracy or religious tolerance.

Therefore, I understand Ijaz’s pain when he and the supporters of the Taliban see people unite against the Taliban or other hate mongers. I don’t take Ijaz, Imran Khan, and countless other nuts in Pakistan seriously and neither does the country. That is precisely why these people are not elected and they don’t represent anyone in Pakistan, or I should anyone significant. They do, however, have an audience that supports the Taliban and these people idealize the Taliban rule in Afghanistan as a role model. And the country must remain vigilant and not allow these misguided Pakistanis into believing that Pakistan would be just fine if only stops working with the United States.

Pakistan has been under attack for years now and like majority of the country, I too was not surprised by the attack on GHQ. What shocked me was the support for the Taliban that got free air time and a 24/7 available platform in the shape of electronic media in Pakistan. But, the time has really come for forces of tolerance to defeat the forces of evil. And I would argue that before crushing the Taliban, Pakistan Army and rest of the country must determine if it is acceptable for them to tolerate the hate and poisonous propaganda that is aired in Pakistan.

I am not suggesting any censorship, no. But, I am asking for a way to neutralize the hate mongers and the Taliban supporters before the country launches a decisive battle against the nihilists currently targeting civilians and armed forced in Pakistan.

Otherwise, the world would continue to see the United Nations, the Marriott, the GHQ and anything and everything bombed and attacked day after day. It is time for a decision – is Pakistan ready to give in and accept the Taliban, or the Pakistanis want to live freely. It is their choice. If Pakistan gave up the fight and tried to appease the Taliban by negotiating or signing a peace treaty, the country will still have a war. It just a matter of time

It think it is wise to remember that when Chamberlain came back to the United Kingdom after signing Munich pact with Hitler, Churchill predicated, accurately, that “You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war.”