Every Pakistani is proud that Afghanistan, a Muslim country, is our neighbour, and our country happily and wholeheartedly opened our hearts and tended to help them and defend them even when the superpower invaded them. It was Pakistan who supported our Islamic madrasas (schools) — we nourished them with food and faith, and enabled them to resist a superpower in their country.
They are like beggars who say, “If you are interested in going to heaven, take pity on us,” and that is the result. When they stood on their own feet they forgot everything and started an insurgent war against Pakistan. For many decades our brave army has been stopping their attacks on our borders and giving their precious lives for Pakistan. I am very sorry to state that our political governments forgive their crimes and make peace with them only to stabilise their own administrations. The real problem is that sabotage is being carried out on our land. I propose that those who are fighting on our soil should be captured and brought to justice. Any political leader who supports them should be held accountable before God and before the law, because to kill a Muslim or to sabotage a Muslim country is a grave sin in Islam.
Afghanistan has a long history in relation to Pakistan, both before Partition and after Pakistan’s independence. In my childhood school lessons we learned about our neighbours; we were told that in the west there is a Muslim country — they are true Muslims, brave and very hospitable. I enjoyed their hospitality when I visited the Khyber Pass. With my two friends who were Pakistani army men, we entered the Khyber Pass in the morning; by afternoon we were very hungry. We searched for a food shop but found none; then we saw an Afghan dera with foodstuff laid out by the door. We went into the dera, and three Afghans came to us. We asked for food and how much it would cost. He said, “We don’t sell food; it is only for our guests.” I asked, “Can you take us as your guests?” He said, “Sure, you become our guests.” We asked how we could be guests.
He answered very openly: “Buy arms, or buy drugs, or go into that room to gamble, or go to the other room where there are women who enjoy themselves; then we will treat you as guests.” I saw many lewd types of people; they had taken refuge there. My friend was a Pakistan Army soldier; I noticed he was about to start a fight. I stopped him and told him, “My friend, you have only a little money with you.” But they had plenty of food; it was Eid al-Fitr. We returned and had our lunch in Peshawar that evening. This, I felt, was Afghan hospitality.
That night the history of Afghans returned to my mind. I remembered that in 1857 Muslims of India migrated to Afghanistan to escape the English Empire, and thousands of brave Muslims of India suffered and died in the cold under the open sky without clothing or food.
Why do our responsible people not understand that Pakistan welcomed these people wholeheartedly, offering them everything from food and clothing to air-conditioned tents — and yet many have abused every facility? Their freedom to come and go has been misused: they have brought drugs and ammunition into Pakistan. They were given privileges to transport foodstuff to their country; they took about 70% of the supplies. The Pakistan government issued licences to cross the western borders, but some checkpoint officials behaved corruptly and accepted bribes. By paying money they re-used food permits several times; with that money these Afghan people brought drugs and arms.
They do not pay tax at any level, so they have purchased many properties. It should be investigated how these Afghans have obtained citizenship of our country and who issued them citizenship papers. Government officials involved in issuing such documents improperly should be charged and prosecuted. There are reports of criminals obtaining passports or other documents for little money from embassy officials, and these individuals then commit crimes such as drug-trafficking, kidnapping and rape, giving our country a bad name.
When a mischief-monger is killed, hundreds of thousands attend his funeral, but when I see my brave soldiers’ bodies going to the cemetery only with family and fellow servicemen, I weep. My nerves do not work because I remember when my brother-in-law Major Sermesese Rauf was martyred in 2002 at Jora Tora; before him my father died and then my brother. For my father and brother, people came to my home to offer condolences. I had three deaths within about 15 days. It is very sad that when my brother-in-law gave his life for us, not everyone stood openly to support our soldiers. If sacrifices are for the country, then why are people not on the roads supporting our army?
To the Field Marshal — respected Sir (I know you may not read me) — I request that households that harbour insurgents or provide material support to those who attack Pakistan should face strict legal consequences and their properties be seized where appropriate. No one who aids insurgents should be allowed to remain free on our land.
Respected Sir, people want to be soldiers and defend the nation; they should be encouraged to join the Pakistan Army now. Private militias and unauthorised armed groups should be banned and disarmed in Pakistan.
May God bless my country, protect my brave soldiers in the field, and preserve our rivers with sweet water. Those who are engaged in harming our country should leave our land; every Pakistani should give preference to Islam and Pakistan.