Division of Nation on War on Terror: Who is Responsible?

Till today Pakistan has sacrificed approximately 35,000 people including both civilians and armed forces personnel in war on terror. Besides these sacrifices, Pakistan also faced economic losses in billions of dollars and still our nation is divided over this issue of terrorism. People are arguing that whether this war is our war or America’s? Is Pakistan army killing its own people (Taliban)? Thing to understand here is that who is responsible for this division of nation? Why can’t we produce a one point agenda against this war or Talibans? Is army responsible for this? If not who else?

Well to my understanding, people of Pakistan follow any of these three entities. (1) Religious ulemas (2) Politicians (3) Armed forces. The blame should be on any of these three forces but who. I think that FIRST our ulemas (not all) have not played their due role. They have not categorically denied actions of Talibans. They do condemn their acts publically but we all know that they have relationships with them. Why can’t ulemas of Pakistan sit together and present a joint FATWA against Talibans that whatever they are doing is wrong and whoever will support them either physically, financially or spreading their views is also doing wrong. Some sects do deny the acts of these terrorism but not all. In Pakistan, there are still ulemas who are not shunning Talibans. They are also responsible for this bloodshed of 35,000 martyrs if they are not denying their acts.

Second force which needs to be blamed is our politicians. They are all doing politics on this serious issue which is a threat to the existence of Pakistan. Our parliament has no strategy against this war. What they know is only to get bullet proof cars for themselves, security for their families and making money. They have no interest in this that how many people are dying or how miserable people are due to this war.

Third force which people of Pakistan follow is our armed force. Earlier our armed forces were much respected among the eyes of common people. But now from few years back, they have been pushed to the wall and a gap is being created deliberately between nation and armed forces. I will not totally blame Pakistan army for whatever is happening in Pakistan because what can armed forces of a country do if their own politician and religious leaders are not with them? Armed forces do not unite nations, it’s the politicians and religious leaders who unite them and in Pakistan’s case they have failed to do this. Situation gets worsened when we come to know that there are Taliban minded people in armed forces as well. But once again who is responsible for that? Answer is our ulemas. I believe that if all sects of Islam (Shia, barelwi, Deobandi, Ahle Hadith etc) in Pakistan sit together and decide that no maulwi or aalim from their sect will support these Talibans in anyway; nation will get united against these people. Of course a society in which people love their religious leaders to this extent that they would like to die for them they will obviously listen to their spiritual leaders if they ask them to stay away from Talibans or their acts or their ideology.

Therefore, it is the responsibility of our Ulema and politicians to come clear on this issue of war on terror. They should send a united message to nation and should work for a clear and common strategy. Army will win this war only if nation is united and supporting them and this is not possible without the active role of politician and religious leaders.