The night between the tenth and eleventh of June 2008 witnessed a ‘cowardly’ attack from the coalition forces based in Afghanistan that has left at least 13 Pakistani soldiers martyred, including a Major, and what is frightful is the fact that more than 50 soldiers are still missing. The missile attack was possibly launched using unmanned drones followed by a ground attack by Afghan forces.

This is what happens when you bend without limits. This is what happens when you say YES to everything they say. This huge military loss is a saddening incidence, which clearly shows the downright disrespect of Pakistani sovereignty by the United States and its coalition forces.

What is interesting is that this aerial attack was followed by a ground attack by Afghan forces which crossed INSIDE Pakistani territory, trying to ‘Occupy’ it, claiming that the area belonged to Afghanistan. This ground attack aided by aerial strikes led to such a large scale loss of Pakistani troops protecting the borders.

It is clearly an indication by the United States and the coalition forces that they do not respect Pakistani borders and can do anything inside Pakistan, whenever they want. This is NOT the first time. Several civilians have lost lives in similar attacks before, with the Bajaur air strike coming into the spotlight in the recent past.

Speak of shamelessness and arrogance, the US army has released a statement saying that the Pakistani Army was ‘informed’ before the attack. It further says:

An unmanned aircraft identified the militants and “in self defense” the coalition fired artillery rounds and then used close-air support “until the threat was eliminated.”

It gives me shudders to think of what could possibly happen if such notorious forces increased the magnitude of such an attack in times to come, taking advantage of the serious internal turmoil we are passing through.

A crumbling economy, a confused government, a President pushed to the wall and a silent military as dirty politicians ride the bandwagon of the return to democracy.

Analysts and all those who are seriously concerned about Pakistan have observed and voiced their concern that the center in Pakistan is fast losing control and the country is slowly being gripped by opportunists and heavily funded activists.

Zaid Hamid, a well known analyst wrote in one of his latest articles that:

This country needs a strong federal government immediately. This circus is not going to go on for a very long period of time. Though we do not see any threat or risk to the geographical boundary of the country, still it is going to be a long hot summer.

But here we are, a direct attack on our geographical boundary! Indeed, the United States has its game in place, teamed up with India.

The PPP and PML-N will not stop their games. The lawyers will not rest till Iftikhar Chaudhry is restored, even if it leads to the disintegration of Pakistan (like Aitzaz Ahsan said). None of them is concerned about Pakistan. And why should they be? They are being heavily paid for the damage they are (perhaps unknowingly) causing to Pakistan. Someone seriously needs to put a foot down and halt this crisis that is rapidly spinning out of control.

We have to put our house in order, as quickly as we can. There is serious lack of leadership at the top. Someone HAS to MOVE IN to fill this threatening gap.

I Salute the martyrs of this attack and the soldiers who quashed this cowardly Afghan invasion and defended our borders like true Heroes!

Author: Syed Ammar Faheem