The psychological trauma of Dr. Afia Siddiqui and her family brings to mind the intense suffering caused by imperial powers in our region , leading to severe psychological issues like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for both perpetrators and victims.
It was Honourable Mujeeb Rehman Khan, a furnisher designer par excellence whose every designed furniture remains a classic in its own classification, was kind enough to have brought into my notice an article commemorating the heroes of the War of Independence. The article was about public execution on 10th June, 1857, of 40 Pukhtun freedom fighters being blown from the mouths of cannons in Peshawar The writeup eulogised the unwavering religious faith of those condemned Sepoys to death, who courageously walked up to the cannon without any fear or favour of their lives to be spared even when they were promised remittance of their sentence in return for betraying their comrades that they preferred honourable death to betrayal of their fellow freedom fighters something that deeply moved the guilty English conscience.
This event highlights yet another darkest historical chapter of the imperial powers atrocities in the region apart from the recent American invasion of Afghanistan. During the Obama administration’s final military push, the focus was on Kandahar, a heartland of Pukhtuns . The 101st Airborne Division faced heavy losses, marking the beginning of a costly war of attrition in Afghanistan. On June 18, 2010, bravo infantry company platoon of 502nd Infantry regiment , who identified themselves as “Bull Dogs” faced the Afghan fighting “Bulli Dogs” killing Sergeant James Hunter and Private First Class Benjamin Park on their first day of deployment on the Afghan soil in a double IED attack .
This incident had devastating effect on the morale of the American 101st Airborne Brigade, who prided themselves for their heroic Normandy landing during World War II, but had to pay a price for their unjust war against an impoverished nation and developing region trying to brow beat them into submission with their military might, and air particularly the newly inducted GPS guided drone technology ; the efficacy of which was well tested with impunity against innocent civilians on both sides of the divide.
Despite America’s human rights tall claims , severe atrocities were committed against civilians. The war’s end, marked by a drone strike in Kabul on civilian target , underscored the destruction caused. Political leaders are the ones to volunteer their own children in the war to truly grasp its impact. To attend a ceremonial funerals of those who lay down their lives in this ongoing unjust war of terror is no justification for our leaders’ service to their country and motherland.
Former President Obama recognized the American unjust war in the region and ensured its end, though it came with the stigma of defeat. It’s also time to release Dr. Afia Siddiqui, held on dubious charges, reflecting poorly on the American justice system and controversial human rights stance worldwide, especially women rights something they try to rub into the Talibans considered as bumpkins for their denial of education to women, while the Americans continue to deny justice to an innocent scholarly woman themselves on their own soil .
Unfortunately, Pakistan continues to suffer from the unjust war on terror , losing lives and livelihoods, under the illusion it can win this war for America . Every casualty of our sons pricks my conscience not to be raising voice against this unjust war in which American has no stakes except to prod us do more while our count of dead bodies increase with every passing day. Long live Pakistan in the hands of political jugglers.
