We stand by our armed forces!

Armed forces and security agencies are considered as the symbol of ‘pride of honor’ for any country and nation all over the world as the armed forces are the ultimate custodians of the nation’s freedom as well as the protectors of the geographical and ideological boundaries of the state. However, the real strength of the armed forces is the nation’s unconditional support which gives them the much needed boost in the war time and motivates and encourages them to give their best in battlefield without having a tinge of confusion over what is happening behind them.

Today Pak Army is carrying out the most crucial and decisive of all the military operations. Named after the Sword of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) Zarb-E-Azb holds a great importance in the current national scenario and day by day changing situations in the Middle East. Pak Army is engaged in an offensive against the TTP and other foreign militant groups based in North Waziristan Agency and needs the support of the whole nation as it is much harder to defeat the insurgents as compared to the external enemy, thus the support of the nation plays a pivotal role in the success of armed forces. Unlike the conventional war, war against terrorism is psychological apart from being physical. A clear stance hurts the miscreants who thrive in chaos. While professionalism and ability of Pakistan army can’t be doubted, the willingness of civilian set up to launch such a major operation is still questionable. But now that our air force is striking the hideouts of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) almost daily and army is closing in on the militants, political parties, media and the general Pakistan public must come forward and support Pak Army in this decisive battle.

We must not forget the fact that while some political parties like Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have always stood against Taliban and extended their full support to the military operations against the TTP and other militant outfits based in the tribal areas, others such as the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) (in KPK) and religious parties such as JUI and JI are still confusing the nation with vague statements and confused policies. Head of PTI, Imran Khan went to the extent that he termed Pakistan’s army incapable of fighting the Taliban head on and declared it a lost battle even before the fight had begun. Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam (JUI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), being religious hardliners have even been known to support TTP in the past. While JUI(S) chief Molana Sami-Ul-Haq openly boasts about his close contacts and relationship with Taliban, JI’s previous chief Syed Munawar Hassan went one step ahead and said that Pak army’s jawans who die fighting against Taliban are not ‘Shaheed’.

Where one feels sorry for Pakistan as a nation as all these Taliban apologists are somehow in the government, hope that sanity will prevail and the nation will stand with its armed forces, which are busy in fighting the TTP militants in the North Waziristan Agency. Our enemies have a clear idea of what they want and have made its motives clear through various press conferences. We should also be clear that we cannot let them take away our sovereignty, our culture, values and democracy. We cannot let Pakistan become a launching pad for terrorism all over the world and we certainly cannot let them take us back to stone-age with their rigid thinking. To protect all this, we have to fight. Our brave army and air force soldiers are taking this fight to Taliban stronghold North Waziristan Agency.

As per the latest updates of ongoing operation Zar-E-Azb more than 500 militants including some commanders of TTP have been taken out and many of their hideouts and suicide bombs manufacturing factories have been destroyed by the Pak army, while 20 brave officers and Jawans of Pak army have embraced martyrdom fighting for the motherland.

At this crucial time MQM Leader & Founder Mr. Altaf Hussain has taken a very timely initiative and called for a ‘Historical Gathering’ to show solidarity with the armed forces of Pakistan, which are carrying out the most important military operation Zarb-E-Azb. This historical display of solidarity will be taking place on 6th of July at the Jinnah Park adjacent to the Quaid’s mausoleum in Karachi.

This is the right time to raise above the politics and political differences and support Pak army in this decisive battle as our existence depends of the success of Zarb-E-Azb, thus, all the patriotic politico-religious parties, media, civil society and common Pakistanis must unite against the enemies of Pakistan and show solidarity with the Pakistan Army, so our brave soldiers could focus their energies on eradicating the menace of militancy from the Land of the Pure, for once and all.

In the end, I just to ask a simple question from all patriotic Pakistanis ‘It’s on us to support Pakistan army in this battle for Pakistan’s survival or not — we have to choose between Taliban apologists and Pakistan’s saviors. I support Pak-Army and operation Zarb-E-Azb against terrorists — do you?’

 

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