Peril

My dear Ali:

You have been bombarding me with questions about the US and NATO attack on us. Look, son, they attacked us a long time ago. The only difference is that now they have escalated and exacerbated the situation by actually putting boots on our soil. Given Admiral Mullen's remorseless statement, its entirely possible that this will happen again. Given Bush's statement that the next president's biggest challenge would be Pakistan and if there were another 9/11 it would come from FATA, it is certain. Given General Kiyani's admirable response, it is also entirely possible that Pakistan will retaliate. Then America may escalate from helicopter gunships to F-16s or even stealth bombers. I hope this doesn't happen, for it spells near total destruction for us, or at least part of our country, all of which are equally dear to us. The situation is so dangerous that apparently European NATO has distanced itself from it, except Britain. They know that Pakistan will make Iraq look like a picnic and Afghanistan like a massage parlour. The New York Times, which reflects the US establishment's thinking, claims that Bush authorised entry of American military personnel into Pakistan. To discredit Kiyani, whom they were lionising only a few days ago, they also claimed that he knew about the bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul, allegedly by the ISI.

Can we stand up to them, you ask, and cite the example of Iran? I have told you that Iran has the most potent weapon in the world. It's called Unity. They demonstrated it in their war with America's puppet Saddam's Iraq. They are undefeatable. So were the Vietnamese for exactly the same reason. Unity is one of the three words of our national motto, the others being faith and discipline. We have none of them. But if we can forge unity in our ranks, faith and discipline will inevitably follow. Then no power on earth can defeat us. Though we seem incapable, an American attack might do just that: bring us together as a nation like nothing ever has. I told you I am an incorrigible optimist in even the bleakest situations. So should you be. So should all young men and women.

If we cannot forge unity, then we will face a situation far more dangerous than in 1971 when our country was rend asunder. We refused to respect the verdict of the people, lost a war against India and half our country with it. Why? Because we attacked our own people for the 'crime' of having voted for their choice so they were not with us when war came. Then India was backed by a the Soviet Union, while our great friend and ally the United States stood by twiddling its thumbs. Now we are being attacked directly by the sole and strongest-ever superpower, our old friend and ally America. And again the people of the Frontier may not be with us for the grievous harm that has been caused to them. There is still time to reclaim their emotional allegiance.