There was a time when serving in the armed forces was not just an honor but a family tradition across classes. For generations, our forefathers proudly wore the uniform, great-grandfathers, grandfathers, even many of our fathers. The call to defend the country was embraced equally by all, whether one came from privilege or modest means.
Today, however, a stark divide has emerged. In our generation, it is rare to hear of anyone from the upper middle class or elite sending their children to the military. The uniform, once a shared source of pride, now belongs to the lower middle and middle classes. It is these very segments of society that already bear the heaviest economic burdens. They suffer most from inflation and they are the ones who struggle daily to make ends meet. Yet, paradoxically, they are also the ones most willing to give their lives for Pakistan. Their patriotism, rooted not in privilege but in faith and resilience, shines far brighter than ours.
It is often the privileged class that complains the most, about rising costs, about discomfort, about governance, while contributing the least when it comes to sacrifice or service for the nation.
It is often the privileged class that complains the most, about rising costs, about discomfort, about governance, while contributing the least when it comes to sacrifice or service for the nation.
This spirit of sacrifice is not confined to history; it also lives in our families. My grandfather, Lt. Colonel Sardar Akbar Ali Khan, served in the British Indian Army under the command of Lieutenant General William Slim during the Second World War. He was known for his fearlessness. Once lifting a live Japanese bomb from a dry canal with his bare hands so it could be defused and, on another occasion, he continued fighting even after being shot multiple times in the leg. Stories like these, passed down by my father, remind me that the courage we see today of our martyrs is part of a long, unbroken tradition, proof that true patriotism has always rested with those who give everything, regardless of era or circumstance.
The recent successful operation Marka-e-Haq reminded us of this same spirit. We continue to see countless examples of sacrifice. Among them are Shaheed Usama Ishrat, married for only ten days, who left behind a widow in the earliest days of her married life. Shaheed Major Adnan Aslam embraced martyrdom while shielding one of his men. Their sacrifice embodies the ultimate resolve, while their families’ response reflects an unshakable devotion to the nation. Mothers, their eyes wet with tears yet hearts filled with pride, say that if they had more sons, they would wish them all to die defending Pakistan. Fathers raise slogans of faith and of love for the country, holding the bodies of their children with dignity, not despair.
It is difficult to even watch videos of such moments without being overwhelmed by grief. And yet, these families endure them with unimaginable courage. Their strength comes from a deep belief in Allah and in the nation their loved ones died to protect. Their commitment, resilience, and sacrifice are unmatched.
I consider myself patriotic, I take pride in loving my country, in raising my voice for it, in celebrating it but when I hear the stories of our martyrs and their families, my sense of patriotism falls shallow in comparison. Their love for Pakistan is not expressed in words or gestures, it is written in blood, in sacrifice, and in unwavering pride.
Why is it only the struggling classes who continue to pay the highest price for this nation? Why has the sense of duty faded from the homes of those who enjoy the greatest privileges? And why is that the voices of complaints are the loudest from those who give the least in return?
Patriotism must not be reduced to words or grievances. It should be the lifeline that unites us beyond financial status and social divides.
The writer is a former State Minister for Education and Professional Training, former Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Chairperson of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme and Director at Media Times.