By: Syed Muhammad Farhan Zahid.
2001! The start of a new millennium was also the year I was born. The year was significant not because it was my birth year, but because it was the year that a horrific event occurred that forever altered the world for us. Of course, I am talking about the incident of 9/11. Almost 64% of Pakistanis, including me and my fellow nationals, were born in the 2000s or 1990s. We did not have the luxury to be born in any other less significant decade. If I could go back in time and given choice, I would have arrived on this planet around 1700’s. When we were not advanced enough to use destructive weapons, when we lacked the means to fight against our fellow humans but unfortunately, I cannot control or decide that, so, I will have to make it work, just like my fellow nationals did.
The vast majority of Pakistanis have never witnessed a terrorism-free country. More than half of the population was too young to even understand what was going on. Terrorism arrived in Pakistan after the Afghan conflict. Growing up in this environment was excruciatingly difficult, both physically and mentally. People were losing their lives all over the country in bomb blasts. There have been a plethora of traumas and concerns. Life was never the same for us as children as it is for children in other countries. We could not socialize with our friends, go to parties, or take school vacations. That is how life is, I used to think. However, as I grew older and became more familiar with the internet, I learned that growing up was not the same for every child all over the world, and that we were the ones who were suffering. You do not have to be afraid to participate in school field trips. You can socialize without having your parents worry about your safety. That is how normal life looks like so I have always felt that we are the most vulnerable and victims of all, having lost everything as a result of terrorism. Our academic performances, as well as our emotional health, were all impacted. I used to believe that the rest of the world must see us the way I do. But there was not a mutualism in those thoughts of mine. As the world leader on national television called us a terrorist state, and having seen in movies and news, how we as a nation are being portrayed around the world was an awakening.
Donald trump:
“Pakistan we can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe haven for terrorist organizations “
The world perceives us differently even after we have gone through great suffering. Let me give you an example to illustrate my point. In 2014, the tragedy of Peshawar plunged us into a state of deep despair and despair from which we can never recover that was a watershed moment in our country’s history. Either we had to fight, fight back until we were free, or we had to stay in our homes and let them succeed. Officials fought back with a brilliant strategy known as the “National Action Plan.” The entire country fought back and did its part. We, as citizens, retaliated by showing courage and attending our schools and offices. Regardless of how terrified we were, we returned to our schools. Even if returning to school means we won’t be able to have recess, we will have to stay inside large school walls that no one can climb, even if we will not be able to participate in assembly or another enjoyable activity. As children/students, we fought by returning back to our schools, so, no other child has to study in a terrorized environment as we did.
Another truth that no one has ever seen is that the Peshawar incident was a terrorist response to our armed troops conducting operations against them. Countries hundreds of miles away are terrified of terrorism, but what about us? We fought them on the front lines, losing lives, mental peace, the economy, and everything! We were victims of wars that were not even directly ours. We lost everything, but we fought until we found peace; we are warriors, survivors, victims, and winners, not terrorists! That is my Pakistani story of terrorism.
Victim not terrorist!
