WHETHER it is the Islamic State, Boko Haram, Al Qaeda or the Taliban, their aim remains the same — instil fear and terrorise the opponents, nations and countries by beheadings, indiscriminate killings, bombings and enslaving captured women.

This is to test and break the resolve of those who dare to challenge them and win over a submissive population. No cricket team has visited Pakistan for the last many years only because the Taliban and their sectarian allies were able to terrorise the cricket-loving nations.

Similarly, Pakistan has not held the traditional military parade on Pakistan Day for the last eight years only because of security concerns. Obviously, we can’t force foreign cricket teams to visit the country, but by stopping the spectacular military parades, we in fact gave a wrong message to terrorists — you win. After years of inaction and reluctance, which is evident from the half-cooked measures taken to counter terrorism, finally we see some change in Islamabad’s attitude.

It has been announced that Pakistan is going to hold the long-awaited military parade on upcoming Pakistan Day on March 23. To prepare for the parade and to make the venue safe for all, the Islamabad administration is in full action. Forty religious seminaries, which lie within a two-kilometre zone of the parade venue, have been served notice to shut down for a week from March 18 to 24, vacate the seminaries’ hostels and relocate students to other places.

One may appreciate these actions as security of guests should be the top priority but what about those days when there is no parade? If terrorists can hide, plan and execute from these seminaries on March 23, why not on other days?

Masood Khan

Jubail, Saudi Arabia

Published in Dawn March 4th , 2015

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