An author living overseas recently presented himself, in an article, with strong confidence as a sincere well-wisher of Pakistan and a representative voice for its youth, reflecting a recurring tendency for emphatic patriotism and moral authority to surface after distancing from the country’s daily realities and hardships. From the comfort of foreign surroundings, this concern translated largely into sweeping criticism rather than constructive involvement, marked by negativity and distrust toward national institutions and those working within them. He argued that patriotism cannot be cultivated through educational settings, a claim that appeared thoughtful but ultimately functioned as a deliberate critique of the military and leadership, echoing a confrontational political narrative linked to a figure facing legal accountability and rooted in denial rather than responsibility. This stance ignored critical moments that transcend routine politics, especially the events of May 9, which represented a grave moral rupture involving attacks on state institutions, military installations, and memorials of martyrs, actions incompatible with any democratic or people-centered justification and dismissive of a legacy built on enduring national sacrifice.
In fact, the genuine service and sacrifice take place within the country itself, not from overseas platforms of comfort and theoretical debate, and those who truly stand with Pakistan, including Generation Z, are the people who live on its soil and invest in its future. The severe, often life-threatening hardships faced by those serving on physical and unseen frontlines get widespread public acknowledgement and appreciation, and people collectively reject the narratives that undermine them. Despite persistent criticism, the country is progressing toward correction and stabilization, with youth increasingly aligned with national direction and encouraged by achievements in sports, technology, and civic life. Leadership on ground is aware of the issues of people, reinforcing that the real disconnect lies not within society but between the genuine sentiments of the people and the destructive agendas of a small overseas minority. The response after May 9 demonstrated that young Pakistanis are discerning and resolute, rejecting chaos, violence, and divisive politics, recognizing that political disagreement does not justify destruction or disrespect, and withdrawing moral and social acceptance from extremist and anti-state ideologies.
The article’s author, from his biographical details, also appears to belong to a relatively privileged elite, studying, working, and residing abroad, enjoying educational opportunities, career prospects, and personal security beyond the immediate reach of millions of his fellow countrymen and women within Pakistan. From this position of relative comfort and insulation, such individuals often attempt, with a notable frequency, to inject a specific brand of pessimistic negativity into the national discourse back home, portraying Pakistan as irreparably broken, a failed project, while subtly projecting themselves as visionary saviors or future leaders waiting in the wings. This political tactic, this long-distance narrative warfare, may have found some traction and cultivated a specific audience in the past, but its efficacy and persuasive power have now drastically diminished. Pakistanis today, especially the hyper-connected, critically thinking youth, are far more aware, discerning, and historically literate. They are no longer receptive to empty slogans, emotional manipulation, or what can only be termed as political lollipops—sweet but insubstantial promises. They see with stark clarity who stands with them during crises, who shares in their hardships, and who merely comments from afar while enjoying the comforts and opportunities of foreign lands.
Furthermore, it is profoundly unjust and morally questionable to insinuate, as such narratives often do, that the people of Pakistan are ungrateful or oblivious to the sacrifices of their armed forces. Day and night, across every terrain—from the highest mountains to the densest urban centers—and in all conditions, the Pakistan Army steadfastly protects the nation’s borders, its internal stability, and its hard-won sovereignty. A nation that forgets or minimizes such sustained sacrifices for the sake of transient personal or political agendas risks losing its moral compass and its foundational unity. Fortunately, Pakistan has not reached that point of collective amnesia. Its people may vigorously critique government policies, passionately debate governance models, and demand rigorous accountability from all power centers, but they do not, as a rule, conflate this legitimate democratic exercise with inherent hostility toward the institutions that form the bedrock and the final guarantor of the state itself.
While it is true that patriotism, in its purest form, cannot be forcibly poured into hearts like water into a vessel, it reveals itself naturally, organically through actions, through expressions, and even in the very countenances of individuals. Anyone who has genuinely attended national seminars, educational events, or institutional programs within the country can witness this tangible truth. The expressions on the faces of Gen-Z participants, their thoughtful engagement with complex national issues, and their probing, insightful questions reflect a genuine, organic concern and attachment to Pakistan’s fate. These are not staged emotions dictated by some official script but authentic responses shaped by lived experience, familial narratives, and a tangible, heartfelt sense of belonging. The national atmosphere following key constitutional and legal developments has evolved significantly, and Pakistan today stands more resilient, more self-aware, and more purposefully aligned than before, with a renewed, collective focus on stability, institutional strength, and uncompromised national dignity.
This internal shift has, inevitably, also begun to alter Pakistan’s global perception and its diplomatic engagements. While international opinions will always vary, there is an undeniable and growing recognition of Pakistan’s enduring strategic importance, its credible defense capabilities, and its diplomatic relevance, which continue to command serious international attention and calculation. The growing cooperation, deepening defense partnerships, and sustained strategic dialogues with various nations, both traditional allies and new partners, signal relationships based on mutual confidence and substantive interest, not on isolation or pity. No country seeks substantive, long-term alliances with a state it perceives as chronically weak, perpetually unstable, or geopolitically irrelevant. These ongoing engagements underscore a measurable belief within the international community in Pakistan’s inherent capabilities, its resilience, and its potential role in fostering regional and global stability. Economically, while significant challenges undeniably persist, and the road to robust recovery is long, there are visible, documented signs of careful improvement and cautious recovery, particularly when contrasted with the relentlessly and uniformly bleak narratives promoted by those who insist, from afar, that all is already lost and nothing can be salvaged.
Pakistan is no longer merely reacting to global pressures and events but is actively, deliberately positioning itself as a contributor, a reliable partner, and, in many respects, a leading and respected voice within the Muslim world and on broader international forums. Its stance on critical global issues carries a weight informed by hard-earned experience, demonstrated resilience, and a nuanced strategic understanding of a complex world. For the people of Pakistan and its dynamic Gen Z, the national story is not one of an ending, of despair and closure, but of a demanding beginning, of recalibration and patient rebuilding. The real national endeavor is not over; in many profound ways, it has just commenced in earnest. What has conclusively ended, however, is the social and political space for those who thrive on division, on misinformation, and on a politics of hostility toward their own homeland. Both internal and external adversaries of peace, unity, and harmony will find, in this new environment, fewer willing listeners and even fewer genuine sympathizers among the populace. Pakistan moves forward, not because it is perfect or has solved all its dilemmas, but because its people, across generations, have collectively learned, matured, and consciously, determinedly chosen the arduous path of national interest and collective survival over the seductive but ultimately destructive narratives curated from comfortable distances.
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