Happiest birthday, our most beloved Pakistan. Infinite best returns of the day.
What is Pakistan to us? It’s not only a philosophical question, but rather it actually defines us. Today, our beloved mother is 78 years old. A ripe, mature age. Although a serious debate exists whether we have really matured or are still caught up in a vortex but that debate is left for some other time. Today, let's just celebrate the birth of the best country and our great homeland, Pakistan.
We tend to forget the birth pangs of 1947. It was not a caesarean birth but rather the mother of all caesarean operations. The killings, the refugees, the duplicity of the British, the Boundary commissions intentional violation of international law, the worsening health of the great Quaid-A-Azam, the hatred of India and the non-provision of our share, the stoppage of our water and the Kashmir war, to name few of the mega challenges and the existential threats, one shudders to think of what we went through in the first year of our birth. But we survived. And we progressed, albeit slowly, but we did.
Having lost Father of the Nation in 1948, we were orphaned at age 1. Just look around and see kids who have lost their fathers in childhood and the impact it has had on them. We groped in the dark without a Constitutional framework to define the contours of the relationship between the State and the people and within the Judiciary, Legislature and Executive branches of government. We had a galaxy of leaders who did everything but lead. The musical chairs game played in the Capital with 7 Prime Ministers in the first 10 years of Pakistan’s life says it all. In the 11th year, we had our first Martial Law.
Although Pakistan progressed economically but as it happens every time a dictator rules a Country, divisive forces became stronger. The 1965 war and the lack of genuine grassroots democracy took a toll, and we ended up losing our twin brother, East Pakistan, in 1971. Without going into the reasons, suffice to say that it was the saddest day in our Mother’s life as she lost one of her children.
Then the pendulum swung back towards democracy. At last, we got our 1973 Constitution, finally. But Pakistan didn’t find peace. The internal fissures continued to worsen. Baluchistan started to get sick. Governance suffered. Nationalisation wrought havoc. And amidst all this turmoil, we had our Second Martial law in 1977.
It was tough. An elected Prime Minister was hanged. Pakistan became the epicentre of the Islamic jehad being fought in Afghanistan starting in 1979. Other seismic international developments took place, which shook our foundations. The card of religion was used. Sham elections occurred. Sectarian and ethnic terrorism blossomed, roasted on the fire unleashed by transnational terrorist networks.
In 1988, democracy returned, but it was the same story. The government oscillated between two parties. State actors played their role. Governance suffered. Terrorism grew into a Frankenstein monster. Talk of an existential threat to Pakistan grew louder. But our mother was resilient. She fought back. The common Pakistani understood the threat better. Somehow, we survived.
And then 28th May 1998 happened. We became a nuclear power. India was stunned. The world was shocked. We were equally in awe of our Mother. From the depths of despair, we arose like a phoenix and changed the World stage, maybe forever, becoming the first Muslim Country to have a nuclear bomb.
But then Kargil happened. And because of a host of additional factors, we had our 3rd Martial law in 1999. Thank God, no Prime Minister was hanged this time. And then 9/11 occurred, and again we became the epicentre of the War on Terror. We paid a colossal price. Our Mother’s sovereignty suffered. Her sons and daughters died in thousands, with more than 100 billion dollars in damage to the economy. She felt hapless. One crisis led to another. And the haemorrhaging went on and on. But she survived. How is a miracle to say the least.
The political journey was severe. The fissures unleashed by years of neglect, internal squabbling and international occurrences continued. And then in February 2019, again our Mother stunned India and shocked the World when IAF suffered its biggest loss after the 1965 war. The elation we felt is indescribable. And we knew that despite a host of issues, we would survive.
The political canvas became very harsh. Governance suffered. The State-citizen relationship became stressed. Our Mother was in pain. Inimical forces tried to play havoc with her. But then, 7th-10th May 2025, occurred. We gave a beating to India, and it will never forget. Akhand Bharat was buried. India became a laughing stock in the world. Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos devoured the regional hegemon. The excitement, pride and satisfaction felt by every Pakistani of whatever background or political bent was unmatched since 1965.
Tenacity is the top quality of our Mother. As very briefly mentioned above, despite huge odds starting from its first breath, she has weathered the severest storms but has not only survived but rather progressed. Catering to nearly 250 million people, the 5th largest population on the planet is what only our Mother could do. Yes, there are problems. Yes, lots of them are because of our own follies, but look around the world. Which Country is problem-free? And for a second, my dear Pakistanis, close your eyes and think of the Muslims living in Modi’s India. It sends shudders down the spine. We are free. We are independent. Freedom is the biggest gift of life, and we have it.
But it's high time we put our house in order. A mother is the greatest gift bestowed on a human. We have no right to hurt her. If something happens to her, we will become total orphans. If she is strong, so are we.
So, let's resolve to do our bit to give her strength and take care of her needs. She is 78 and will be 100 years old in no time. The biggest happiness she can have is to have a calm, peaceful and progressive populace, who believe in inclusivity and freedom of thought. That would indeed be the best present for her.
We love you, our beloved Pakistan. Pakistan Zindabad.