WHEN the Peshawar massacre happened it seemed that it would serve as a wake-up call for our nation. But as the days wore on, things started to change. We started hearing things like what about the women and children dying in drone attacks and the attacks carried out by the army.

We need to realise it was the Taliban who declared war on the state not the other way round.

Second, even while the negotiations were going on, they launched major attacks in which many civilian casualties were reported. This includes the attack at the Karachi airport, which eventually prompted the army to step in and start Operation Zarb-i-Azb. Everyone knew that a major army operation would soon be underway and as a result the local population was asked to leave the area. Roughly one million people migrated and are now living as IDPs across the country. These IDPs are braving hardships as they do not want to follow the dictates of the Taliban and want their land cleared of the oppressors called Taliban.

Have these apologists ever considered what it would be like to live under these oppressors. Your children will be deprived of modern education. Women may be allowed to beg but not work. As for the minorities, I shudder to think what their fate will be under the Taliban.

So dear apologists, it is about time you saw these monsters for what they are.

Fatima Hassan

Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2014