Breaking Ties with the Brave

News:

Islamabad: A Pakistani immigration official confirmed Friday that each Afghan asylum-seeker waiting to depart to a third country would be charged more than $800 for overstaying their visas or not possessing documents to stay legally. (voanews.com)

Comment:

Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees since the late 1970s and 1980s, and now suddenly the Government of Pakistan has ordered the 1.7 million undocumented Afghans to leave the country, out of these 250,000 have already left through Torkham border. The reason of expulsion is said to be their involvement in crimes like suicide bombings, although no evidence has been provided.

A deceptive political relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan started in the era of Zia-ul-Haq and a relationship was built on Afghan Mujahideen bravely fighting the USSR and finally driving them out of Afghanistan. In the nine years’ war (1980-1989) the conflict had cost the lives of an estimated 1 million civilians and some 125,000 combatants. This was the time that many refugees entered Pakistan and still held the title of Mujahideen for Pakistanis, which sadly now has changed into terrorists. This badge of terrorism was placed when these very Taliban started fighting against American occupation. Here we need to understand that this loss of lives and displacement was not because of Afghan weakness but because of manipulation and deception of the enemy within. An example here can help us understand how strong Muslims can be when they are joined together in obedience of Allah (swt).

In the Afghan War of 1845, a 16,0000-strong British Army men suffered complete annihilation at the hands of brave Afghans on Afghan Soil with only one survivor, a doctor by profession. He was allowed to live only to enable him to tell the tale of their death and destruction to their masters - the British Crown - which he did. The lesson learnt by British Raj was that “Never to indulge in any kind of such venture again”.

This was a time of resistance when the Muslim Ummah around the world was trying to escape the colonial claws. They were not divided into Nation States and their enemy was common too. Now the situation of every Muslim country that was under colonial rule and now a Nation-State is as of Hazrat Yusuf (as). When his brothers threw him in a well. There is a lesson in this for all the Muslims who are suffering one way or the other. The lesson is of sabr and resilience while relying on Allah (swt).

[فَلَمَّا ذَهَبُوا بِهِ وَأَجْمَعُواْ أَن يَجْعَلُوهُ فِي غَيْبَتِ الْجُبْ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ لَتُنَبِّنَنَّهُم بِأَمْرِهِمْ هَذَا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ]

“Then, when they led him off, and were of one mind that they should place him in the depth of the pit, We inspired in him: Thou wilt tell them of this deed of theirs when they know (thee) not.” [TMQ 12:15].

The Muslims Ummah must understand that only true obedience to Allah (swt) will bring it out of the dark pit it has been thrown into. Instead of hating and pushing away your Muslim brother because of his ethnicity or labeling him with brutal titles will further delay the re-establishment of Khilafah (Caliphate) upon the method of the Prophethood. These very Afghans can become a force for the Muslim Ummah and protect it against the enemy who is busy making them fight with each other on different bases.

[وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ]

“And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]” [TMQ 2:45]

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Ikhlaq Jehan