Source: PNS By: Muhammad Nasir Khan Khattak
Pashtoons: The ethnic group living on both sides of Durandline and most affected ethnicity in the pre and post 9/11 afghan war.
Punjab: The eastern province of Pakistan, receiving least damage in war on terror, and mostly occupies Pakistani civil and military offices.
I would like to mention here a base for choosing the title for this article. In Pashtoon culture, Hujra (guest house) is very old and big social institution and it is different from guest houses of modern world. It is a common guest house of many neighbouring families and most of the men sit and discuss the current issues in evening in informal way. The elders tell their expertise and the younger’s listen and analyse their expertise keeping in mind the current situation. Now this Hujra took a modern shape and Pashtoons have a web Hujra where many educated Pashtoons from all over the world come and discuss different topics. As Pashtoons are the people affected badly in war on terror, therefore most of the discussion in this electronic Hujra is about the worries and difficulties of Pashtoons today. Pashtoons are also very much conscious about the future and the exploitation of their blood, emotions, resources and their motherland. In such a situation one of the members of this electronic Hujra used this title for a thread in Hujra Bombs for Pashtoons and Dollars for Punjab. This attracted me and with his permission I used this title for my article. Why Pashtoons think so? There are many reasons for this and most of these are based on facts but due to the brutalities of Taliban terrorists and Pakistan army, it is difficult for a common Pashtoon to open lips on this issue.
It is evident that Pashtoons as a nation did not harm any one and at least in the last 2 centuries did not invade any neighbour country and they did not interfere in the affairs of any one. They are attacked, killed, destroyed, handicapped, displaced, terrorized, insulted, divided and their resources exploited by many including Britain’s, Russian, Americans, Iranians, Mughals (they ruled the Indian sub-continent from1526-1857), Arabs and Pakistanis (mainly Punjabis). It is our mistake to live in the area, strategically important and is lying in the south of USSR, North of Iran and east of Pakistan (formerly Indian sub-continent). It was our mistake that most of the India accepted Britain’s rule, but we fought for our freedom and independence. It is our mistake that we did not accept Mughal rule, we did not accept Iranian or Russian brutalities. In the current situation our mistake is that the Arab terrorists were deployed by USA and Pakistan, without our permission on our land. Pashtoons were not strong enough to stop the superpower of the day from this satanic act (this was called holly war that time by USA, Middle East and Pkaistan). Pashtoons were not strong enough then to get rid of the violent and brutal Arabs and Pakistan. Pashtoons were not strong enough to stop Iran and Russia from interfering and creating anarchy in their country. Pashtoons are the real victims of the whole game. Pashtoons have a population of about 43 Millions living on both side of Durandline (The imaginary line between Pakistan and Afghanistan dividing Pashtoons). It is hard to find any family not affected by war prevailing through the last 3 decades. They are today known as terrorists, but they are terrorized more than any one else by both parties of war on terror. Killing of innocent citizens each day in Afghanistan as a collateral damage is the big example. The use of citizens as a human shield by Taliban and Al-qaeda terrorists is another example. The displacement of millions of Afghans during Late 70’s and early 80’s and then again during the Taliban regime (Taliban are no way representatives of Pashtoons, as they were created by Pakistan with due support of USA) and their difficulties are the examples of terrorizing Pashtoons. Now internal displacement of about 1.2 millions Pashtoons in Pakistani is another terrible story. The respectable people with beautiful, sober and polite faces are now compelled to stand in the queue for a piece of bread. I would like to invite the attentions of the international community regarding this issue. There are many individuals, organizations and governments in the world supporting strong army action in Pashtoon dominated areas where most of the terrorists are hiding. We as a Pashtoon nation are no way against destroying hideouts of terrorists, but want to ask one question? Will these people support bringing the players into criminal court that trained, supported and created these terrorists? These trainers, supporters and creators are present in USA, Pakistan and Middle East. They can argue that 3 decades before, it was matching USA, Pakistan or Middle East interest. My question is again, then why Pashtoons should pay the price for their interest now?
Will international community ask USA and other powers to force Pakistani government to provide the grant directly to the effected people of the region? A week before the provincial information minister of the North West Frontier Province, Pakistan, said openly in a press conference that provincial government did not receive a penny for war on terror. Where does the money go given to Pkaistan for war on terror? That is why this type of discussion is evident in Pashtoons, bombs for Pashtoons and dollar for Punjab. The displaced people need some temporary camps where they can spend their time with respect, not as beggars, but all this need money and provincial government is unable to provide the required facilities with its limited resources and authority. US official said continuously that they will not provide blank cheques to Pakistan and Pakistani officials said that they will not receive blank cheques, but in fact both are doing the same. If these internally displaced people are not helped properly, most of them will join Terrorists and will strengthen them. It is very much wished from the international community to take the real interest and to keep eye on the money they provide for war on terror to be used very properly for the affected people, not for increasing bank balance of the corrupt officials.
It is noteworthy that if this feeling prevails in Pashtoons, Bombs for Pashtoons, Dollars for Punjab, will be very much dangerous for the region, as the frustrated and desperate person can be expected to go to any extreme for survival. International community should try to relocate the displaced people, it does not need words, and it needs practical and whole hearted help. It will be called no way begging, it is right of the Pashtoons on international community. Pashtoons are destroyed for other’s interest and now these other must pay the price to Pashtoons, not to dislocate, insult or destroy them more. |
