Adil Najam
This montage of headlines from Dawn need little explanation. It represents seven headlines; one each from each of the last seven days (Nov. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, 2009). All except one were headlines on Dawn, and one (Nov. 13, 2009) was on the back page. The fact that the killing of 17 Pakistani soldiers will not make it to the front page of a Pakistani newspaper is itself a stern reminder of the craziness that defines our polity today!
There is little ‘news value’ in this montage. But, maybe it deserves just a moment’s silence from all of us. Maybe a moment of reflection on that which is truly important.
We post this merely as a reminder to ourselves that Pakistan remains at war. Pakistanis remain under attack. Our territory remains occupied by the enemy. The relentness of the violence can nudge the routine daily ugliness into the background and the seductiveness of tiltilating conspiracies and scandals can provide ready relief even to those whose job it is to keep reminding us of that which is truly existential for all our futures.
And so, we post this as a reminder to ourselves. Pakistan remains at war. Pakistanis continue to die. Pakistan continues to cry. Lest we forget.
I agree. Heroic deeds of our soldiers in the recent past haven’t been fully recognized except for political rhetorics.
Killing of Pakistanis didn’t start in 2009. It started in 1974, when Qadianis were killed in Balakot (yes, the site of 2005 earthquake), their dead bodies were thrown in the main chowk of the town. Their relatives were not allowed to bury them for 3 days. Dogs mutilated their bodies. Unfortunately, there was no Adil Najam and no journalist to publicize it. Then came turn of Shia. Now whole country is being punished for their act of omission.
Just looking at this has depressed me. Specially because too many pakistanis are still not willing to accept the taliban as the real enemy and keep finding excuses about ‘external’ enemies. I hope we will wake up soon enough.
Very poignant and thought provoking.
The war is an every day affair and we must all remain strong and together in this war. Whatever our political differences on other things, against these Taliban we all must stand together.
What a heartfelt writeup and what a powerful image.
A timely reminder to all Pakistanis on who the real enemy is.