by Irshad Ahmad
The guns may eventually fall silent, but the poison of distrust will linger – seeping deeper into our collective psyche. The specter of “the enemy” will haunt our consciousness far longer than we anticipate. Media outlets, addicted to ratings, will keep peddling distorted images to fuel panic and perpetuate caricatures of our neighbors. Life in this region remains cursed by the twin demons of hatred and violence.
While the world races to dominate economies and harness nature, we remain obsessed with dominating each other. The inevitable result? Generations condemned to poverty, unemployment, and needless suffering. Meanwhile, a cunning few grow rich by weaponizing hate – their warlike rhetoric mobilizing masses like pawns on a chessboard.
Here, war is romanticized. Hatred is normalized. The voices of humanists and peacebuilders drown in the cacophony of war drums. When I envision our children’s future, my heart breaks: I see them trapped in a world shaped by rulers’ blunders and fanatics’ frenzy.
The most terrifying sight? Millions glued to screens, lapping up the vitriol of partisan anchors and AI-manipulated “news.” When fighter jets roar overhead and war drums drown out reason, life loses meaning. The voiceless go unheard; only the call to arms echoes across this scarred land.
Life in our region grows harder by the day. Once-convenient air routes now stretch into exhausting, expensive detours. Trade that should flourish with neighbors now limps along with distant partners at inflated costs. Cultural exchanges wither; tourism dwindles. Businesses buckle under the weight of geopolitical tensions.
In this climate, jingoism thrives. Every security checkpoint breeds more extremism, every border closure justifies deeper paranoia. When small-minded leaders reign, fanaticism replaces reason – and we all pay the price.
This vicious cycle begins and ends with us. When our egos swell larger than our patriotism, we become both perpetrators and victims of violence. We chain ourselves to hatred, enslaved by:
Our own contradictions (preaching peace while breeding militants)
External manipulators (who profit from our divisions)
Self-inflicted isolation (choosing enemies over opportunities)
The bitter truth? We’ve traded independence for the illusion of strength, and freedom for the empty pride.
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About the Author:
Irshad Amad is a visiting professor in the Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab, in Lahore, Pakistan.
