Pakistan's army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa (R) and PM Imran Khan. (Photo | AP)
Rahul Dev was recently inducted into the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) with much media fanfare. Major Hercharan Singh, a Sikh, had also joined the Pakistani Army in the early 2000s and his marriage in 2017 was attended by a posse of Pakistani Generals. The two became the first officers in the Pakistan military who belong to their harangued minority communities.
Indians, being citizens of a multiethnic and multi-cultural society, would wonder why these two events should be newsworthy. The reason is startling. The Pakistani military’s laughable attempts to publicise such non-events as a shining example of minority empowerment are reminiscent of a quintessential South Asian lexicon 'Nautanki'' or Theatre of the Absurd.
Despite such brave attempts to showcase the examples of minority empowerment, statistics tell a totally different picture. Pakistan's population figures indicate a steep fall in minority populations over the decades, due to religious persecution and lack of opportunities. This fact exposes Pakistan's lies as well as the infamous Inter-Services Public Relations – ISPR’s fake narrative of minority empowerment. Hindus and Sikhs serving in the militaries of Islamic countries is not new, but as per ISPR, Hindus and Sikhs serving the military of Pakistan is news!
On matters of religious tolerance, Pakistan is on a new strategy led by Prime Minister Imran Khan with his personal twitter handle - to paint India in poor light.
Most Indians ignore his salacious comments since the illustrious list of Indians from minority communities is impregnable proof otherwise. On the other hand, minorities have contributed equally to the development of India, and risen to coveted high-ranking positions in the government, military and in the bureaucracy. Young Indians from minority communities do not have to look outwards for such beacons or inspirations since our history is replete with real heroes, especially in the Armed Forces.
There cannot be a more befitting icon to begin with than Brigadier Mohammed Usman, Maha Vir Chakra (Posthumous) alias Naushera ka Sher, who was offered the post of heading the Pakistani Army by Jinnah before partition, which he politely declined and then fought and laid down his life for India in the very first war started by Pakistan.
And there have been many more heroes like him in the Indian military who have truly represented the idea of the Indian Republic because loyalty to country stands far higher in the Indian social fabric than every other consideration. Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw, Admiral Jal Cursetji, Vice Admiral RKS Gandhi. Air Chief Marshal FH Major, General JJ Singh and General Bikram Singh are some of the illustrious sons of India who belonged to minority communities. Late Air Chief Marshal Idris Latif, a WW-II veteran who chose India over Pakistan during partition went on to become the 10th Chief of the Indian Air Force, military historians point out.
A further testament to the inclusiveness of India and its military is borne out by recipients of the nation's highest military award Param Vir Chakra Lance Naik Karam Singh, 1948 war; Subedar Joginder Singh, 1962 war; Lt Col AB Tarapore, 1965 war; Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid, 1965 war; Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, 1971 war; Naib Subedar Bana Singh, 1987 Siachen ops.
Invaluable contributions of numerous senior officers -- Major Gen Afsir Karim, a war hero of 1962, '65 and '71 wars and Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, former Corps Commander in Kashmir are shining examples of the strong secular fabric entrenched in the Indian military. The shining achievements of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Bharat Ratna, former President of India and the architect of the Indian Missile programme are testament to the equal opportunity for all of India's citizens.
Yet, Pakistan plays spectacularly to the gallery. In its 2018 election manifesto, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party under the leadership of Imran Khan had promised to uplift various religious groups across the country.
Khan during his election campaign had also said that he would take actions to stop forced marriages of minority girls if his government came to power. However, rampant suppression of minorities continues under his watch leading one to the conclusion that his pre-election speech was another ploy in the grand spectacle written and directed by the ISI - to give the West hope that change for the good is just around the corner. Can a few sporadic arrows of stage managed propaganda from the quiver of the Pakistani ISPR be anything but poorly written drama?
Pakistan's desperate attempts of an image make-over on the minorities front are about as honest as a snake shedding its skin - merely a Theatre of the Absurd.
