Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Is China and Pakistan's 'iron brotherhood' crumbling?
Friday, February 17, 2023
TOI- NEW DELHI: For years, China and Pakistan have been tom-tomming their ever-tightening geopolitical embrace to the entire world. With Pakistan at the centre of its Belt and Road ambition, China has pumped billions of dollars worth of investment into the country and has extended diplomatic support to Islamabad at every global platform - directly or indirectly.
However, it appears that the ties between the so-called all-weather allies are now navigating through choppy waters.
Pakistan's worsening security situation has become a matter of great concern for Chinese officials while its financial crisis has put Beijing's massive investments at risk.
The sentiment is similar in some parts of Pakistan, where officials are secretly blaming the mega CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) project for exacerbating the country's debt crisis. The CPEC is a $65 billion network of roads, railways, pipelines, and ports in Pakistan connecting China to the Arabian Sea.
Is the "iron brotherhood" between China and Pakistan finally crumbling?
These recent examples suggest so ...
Closure of Chinese consular section
China recently announced that it will be temporarily closing down the consular section of its embassy in Pakistan due to "technical issues".
The move comes just days after China advised its citizens in Pakistan to be cautious of the deteriorating security situation in the country.
In a notice issued last week, the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs' consular department warned their citizens that they may be at risk of high levels of security in the country, Geo News reported.
China, which did not vacate its diplomatic missions in Kabul even during the Taliban takeover in 2021, clearly appears to be nervous about the failing security and financial situation in Pakistan.
Rising terror
Unlike the time when Pakistan exclusively used terrorism as a tool of its state policy, it is now facing a different kind of challenge.
There's been a spike in terror attacks, particularly since the TTP — Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan — called off a truce with the government late last year.
Pakistani Taliban target Pakistan's military and security personnel with the aim of establishing the rule of Shariat as interpreted by their Afghan counterparts.
