The terrorist attack on Police Academy in Lahore must have been a wake up call for those who have been arguing that ‘war on terror’ is America’s war. On the contrary, it is a war that is being fought in Pakistan and for a majority of Pakistan, it is heart sinking to realize that men, driven to insanity by different reasons, are blowing themselves up, just to inflict pain on the country.

This unfortunate attack in Lahore could be, and it should be the beginning of a new resolve by the country to not let anyone, either domestic, or foreign to unnecessarily exert pressure on Pakistan. The country belongs to the people who live in Pakistan and it is up to the Pakistani public to decide their future, their alliances and allegiances going forward.

Of course, it is not going to be easy because there are people in the country who link every attack, every incident, everything unfortunate incident to an ‘invisible foreign hand’ and it is time for them to dig their heads out of sand because the water around them is rising, and rising fast. However, it is also important to note that this fight to free the country from the nihilists is not going to be a cake walk. The obstructionists will once again try to create confusion, make irrational and illogical arguments, but it is also a challenge for peace loving people to make the case against terrorism without ifs and buts clearly, logically and in a language that is not abstract for the masses to comprehend because at the end of the day, this battle to defeat hate mongers will only be won if the entire country joins this effort wholeheartedly.

Regretfully, Pakistan, especially if looked through the prism of electronic media in the country is completely perplexed, if not completely lost in confusion due to highly charged, yet totally improper rhetoric. No question that there are voices of reason, but they are being drowned by conspiracy theorists, those who use nationalism and religion, coupled with a non-existent effort by external forces to distract the public from the actual threat. The reality is that Pakistan is at risk because there are negative forces operating in the country that are unwavering in their quest to demoralize the nation.

This unholy effort has to be stopped from deflating national confidence.

The country has suffered more then its share of tragedies. The nation has seen enough pain from being losing half of Pakistan to the current terror wave and miraculously, the country is still intact and people of Pakistan still refuse to give up hope. This spirit of self respect and strong confidence in the federation has to be encouraged at every cost.

Pakistan, with a little support from democratic forces will outlast evil and for every patriotic citizen, the country is worth fighting for, no matter how long it takes or how treacherous the terrain, peaceful Pakistan will eventually emerge, victorious and intact.

Bilal Qureshi