Peace, which has a literal meaning ‘freedom from disturbance or disputes’, apparently seems an unquantifiable thing, but when we dig in, even diamonds become cheap. Despite the defense expenditure allocated to maintain stability across the borders of our country, there is much more added cost involved in the peace process.
When a young lad is deployed at a given perimeter, securing his motherland, there is so much at stake. A soldier or an officer, aging in the twenties or thirties, widely opens his chest to defend his nation and embraces martyrdom at a cost of more or less 12 years of education and brought-up, years of rigorous training, uncompromising military service and above all his life. The funeral is done with honor, and all the emotions, relations and friendships are buried down deep below, leaving just a bunch of memories for the bereaved to be kept safe for the rest of their lives.
Although Pakistan’s economy is struggling, we have a massive budget to buy peace. Since years, brave sons and resilient families along with the military have been bearing these expenses and the game is not over yet, as 10 more soldiers including a captain embraced martyrdom.
The twin events happened in in the northwest and southwest regions of the country when armed terrorists targeted security forces in North Waziristan, KPK and Turbat, Baluchistan.
Havaldar Khalid, Sepoy Naveed, Sepoy Bachal, Sepoy Ali Raza, Sepoy M Babar, and Sepoy Ehsan were martyred in an assault in KPK, while three other martyrs Captain Aaqib, Sepoy Nadir, Sepoy Atif Altaf, and Sepoy Hafeezullah were deployed in Hushab and Turbat.
The damage is indeed irrecoverable, and each one of them has their own pending stories back at home. Heartfelt condolences from Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, Prime Minister Imran Khan and other dignitaries were shared to share the agonizing pain of the bereaved. COAS said, “We shall ensure defense and security of motherland at the cost of our sweat and blood,”. PM Khan shared his message as, “I salute our armed forces personnel who continue to lay down their lives fighting terrorists to keep the nation safe. My condolences & prayers go to the families of the10 brave soldiers, including an officer, martyred fighting terrorists in North Waziristan & Balochistan today.”