We are celebrating Eidul Fitre today with due fervour and solemnity at the end of holy month of Ramazan or month of fasting. Naturally we will try to carry along all our relatives who are poor having no means to celebrate the Eid in a proper manner.

Afghanistan announced Thursday an apparently unilateral ceasefire with the Taliban for Eid, the holiday that caps off Ramadan, though operations against other groups including Islamic State will continue. The week-long ceasefire, which was backed by the US and would bring some welcome relief to war-weary civilians, will last “from the 27th of Ramadan until the fifth day of Eid-al-Fitr”, President Ashraf Ghani tweeted from an official account, indicating it could run from June 12-19.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the Taliban to observe the ceasefire and enter into direct peace talks with the Afghan government. The Taliban view Ghani’s government as illegitimate and have previously said they would negotiate only with the US, whom they consider the main player in the conflict.

In February Ghani unveiled a plan to open peace talks with the Taliban, including eventually recognising them as a political party. At the time he suggested a ceasefire would form part of the plan. The insurgents did not officially respond, but attacks have proliferated since then, especially in Kabul.

India and Iran in this conflict in order to defend the interests of Western powers in this region. On the other hand, there is no realization among the ‘national’ politicians about the deteriorating security situation inside Pakistan and its surrounding. We will find ourselves trapped in the conflict of the Gulf between Iran and Saudi led Islamic Army and the Afghan infighting making serious inroads on the Pakistani territory.

Foreign countries and foreign forces may exploit this dangerous situation against Pakistan and its people. All the major political parties of the country are locked in a senseless battle or political controversy ignoring the real threat to Pakistan from neigbouring countries.

There is a report that a bill had been moved in the US Congress dropping Pakistan as a non-NATO ally of the United States. Presumably, Pakistan had taken a firm policy decision to deal with drone attacks in future after one from Iran shot down near Parom in Panjgur region of Balochistan. This is a clear message that Pakistan will strongly retaliate in any attempt to launch drone attacks in near future. Pakistan got the right to defend its unity, solidarity and integrity using its full might in case of any attack from any front.

This message was conveyed to the whole world from those people responsible for defence of the country.  Finally, there should be a pledge to defend every inch of Pakistan in the crisis looming large over the region. Pakistan is in danger from many fronts.

Afghanistan can act as a proxy of India in case of any emergency. There should be no doubt about it that Afghanistan will join the conflict or fighting on one pretext or the other.

There is a bigger threat of war starting from the Mekran Coast in the Straits of Hormuz region in which the Islamic military alliance under Saudi Arabia making attempts to control the oil shipment route of Straits of Hormuz. The huge US flotilla may back the Saudi invasion of Iran from many fronts.

We support the saner voices within the country that Pakistan should not be a party to the ultimate Gulf war and secure Pakistan first in all respects. People seek a pledge from the rulers during the Eidul Fitre that they will not take the country to a senseless war in our region of peace and tranquility.