Abdullah Mustafvi
It is a painful coincidence that two great national tragedies in our history took place on 16 December. 43 years distant apart, both events left deep scars on the soul of nation. Fall of Dhaka in 1971 and children massacre at APS Peshawar in 2014 are unforgettable tragedies. East Pakistan tragedy was not sudden occurrence or unexpected accident. After partition in 1947, more than two decades prolong trail of blunders eventually ended up in a blood soaked climax. Having no denial to internal blunders, criminal role of India in architecting the east Pakistan tragedy and short sightedness of Shaikh Mujeeb led cult is now part of the tragic history. Undoubtedly, it was national failure and still needs an unbiased deliberate review to identify the fault lines exploited by our traditional adversary. Unfortunately, realistic scenario of this great tragedy usually remains unexplored and rarely few portions surface on media in a least analytical manner. Ideological biases and professional dishonesty of few media figure heads distorted the facts and significantly covered up the Indian coercive role by exaggerating the follies on our part. It is a fact that Pakistan as a state was not in an ideal shape to deal with complex political issues spread over an extra ordinary geographical stretch in East Pakistan having no land link. A state coming into being 24 years back, with an extremely coercive minded neighbor like India, was expected to confront multiple internal crisis. India adopted coercive mode and exploited the weaknesses of a fragile weak state by sowing the seeds of ethnic hatred. Eventually, India shamelessly violated UN rules by invading Pak borders and played havoc with blood of innocents in collaboration with ‘Mukti Bahini’ gangsters. Surprisingly, a highly biased cult of Journalists never raise a question upon Indian role and always lay their spot lights on weaknesses or follies of West Pakistan’s ruling regime. Is it fair to exploit the fault lines of a week neighboring country?. A country with weak or flawed governance system do has a right to survive! Why this right was deprived from Pakistan in 1971 through unlawful military intervention?. 43 years after east Pakistan tragedy our enemies selected the same date to strike at heart of the nation . Abhorrent child massacre in APS Peshawar is an unprecedented act of terrorism through which Indian sponsored terrorists tried to test our determination in war against terrorism. Contrary, to their assessments, this strike at the heart of nation further strengthened the spirit and Zarb-e-Azb chased the terrorists with a lightening vigor . Like 1971 tragedy, APS Peshawar incident and many other terrorists acts have a trail of blunders coupled with undeniable foreign sponsorship. Modi shamelessly confessed Indian role in disintegration of East Pakistan last year in Bangladesh. World conscious remained unmoved ! Indian national Security Adviser Ajeet Doval openly disclosed plans for separation of Balochistan through terror sponsoring. No body took notice of it ! Why to complain from the world once our foreign office remained restricted to a meaningful customary response. There are multiple lessons linked to the tragedies of 16 December. We need to improve upon governance, merit, public welfare, accountability, education and capacity building of LEAs. Throwing the responsibility on ‘Khaki Shoulders’ and then weeping about establishment is not the solution. Terrorism in Pakistan is the direct outcome of foreign interventions in Afghanistan by Russia and America. Indian atrocities in Kashmir coupled with conspiracies in Afghanistan are a major threat to regional peace and pose a direct security threat to Pakistan. Federal government has miserably failed to respond in a befitting manner. Persistent failures of civil LEAs is another heavy stone hanging with neck of political leadership. Our survival is directly dependent on expeditious repair of all exploitable fault lines . To me, it is the biggest lesson of 16 December tragedies.
