Daily Times

So far, many precious lives have been claimed by the terrorists. Pakistan has lost many souls in this bloodbath. If it were not for the gallant defence of the Pakistan armed forces enduring offensive attacks and conducting counter responses, the country would have been in a much worse condition. I salute the officers and men of the brave armed forces who are guarding our defences day and night, and for those who have lost their lives in the line of duty, in the line of defence.
However, no war can be won until the whole nation is on the same page. Sadly, despite being at war for the last decade, there are still circles that keep themselves indifferent. They are not fully apprised of the factual situation or they lack the courage to see the ultimate truth. The sheer crux of this war is about defending the sovereignty of Pakistan and eradicating all internal enemies. This war has nothing to do with any imposed foreign agenda; it has to do with what is right. As Pakistanis we must never allow any terrorist to operate on our lands.
Some people are playing with neutrality. They not only lack the courage to admit the atrocities of the terrorists but also provide a soft corner by being silent. This is not the time for playing grey; it is either black or white. It is time to take a side. Unless we have the courage to say what is right and what is wrong, we will be engulfed in the flames of war. It is about time we decide which part to play.
One is the side of light, the white side, the side of peace, tolerance, moderation, enlightenment and prosperity. This side promotes a modern, educated, healthy and sovereign Pakistan. This side has kept Pakistan going for the last 66 years. This side is the one envisaged and struggled for by the Muslims of the subcontinent. This side promotes education. It has built schools and provides equal learning and opportunities for girls and boys. On this side we have given women the respect and confidence to become doctors, teachers, pilots, bankers, politicians and armed forces officers. This is the side where health facilities are extended to save lives, where tolerance means being educated, that there is tolerance for each other, tolerance for other religions, tolerance for opinions and tolerance for mutual difference. This is the side where the mosques are used for prayers and places of worship are respected. This side has looked after each other in times of calamities, floods, earthquakes and other disasters. This side is governed by the law. This side integrates Pakistan, its constitution, the government, the armed forces of Pakistan, its sovereignty and the people of Pakistan.
The other side is of darkness. The black side wants to push the country back to the Middle Ages. This is the side that brings disaster home to innocent citizens. This is the side where men, women and children are killed in bomb blasts while they are busy carrying out their business in the markets. This is the side that martyrs people who are busy in offering their prayers to God. This is the side that destroys the mosques, churches and places where people come together to praise God. This is the side that sabotages schools and denies girls their education. On this side, loved ones are murdered ruthlessly and beheaded just for sport. This side not only denies women basic education but also denies them any kind of respect. Polio vaccination teams have been murdered by this side so that our children cannot be saved from the deadly polio virus. Lady health workers are killed so that they cannot provide healthcare services to women inside their homes. This side has the blood of more than 50,000 Pakistanis on its hands. Hundreds of thousands have seen first hand this side of mass murderers. This is the side that has no respect for the religion it claims to follow. This side denies education, modernism, technology and global immediacy. This is the side that openly denies the constitution and any kind of law. This is the side that offers nothing but intolerance, ignorance and weapons of destruction.
It is up to us which side we chose to be on — either we choose Pakistan or the enemies of Pakistan. If we choose Pakistan we resolve to stand by our government and our armed forces while they take every possible measure to defend and safeguard Pakistan from all evil forces. It is about time we take a side and stop this indifference and impartiality. We must choose between the white and black and come out of this grey noise.

The writer is a freelance columnist