By: Khwaja Kabir Ahmed
If we study human history, a bitter truth repeatedly emerges that wars can never provide lasting solutions. They can provide temporary victory, geographical change or political superiority, but they do not create peace, stability and collective satisfaction. Silence imposed by force is actually silent gunpowder that can flare up again at any time.
The two world wars of the twentieth century are clear examples of this fact. The First World War reduced Europe to ruins, millions of young people went to their graves, but still the agreement that followed could not bring permanent peace. As a result, just two decades later, the Second World War engulfed the entire world. This war led humanity to the use of nuclear weapons, but ultimately the world had to turn to the diplomatic system and international institutions. That is, even after the gun, talks became the last resort.
The context of South Asia is no different. Even after the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, the fundamental political conflicts of the region could not be resolved. Wars have cost lives, resources, and mutual trust, while issues have ultimately been resolved through diplomatic dialogue and political action. This teaches us that war suppresses problems, not solves them.
Similarly, the liberation movements in North Africa have proven that military force does not always guarantee political success. In the Algerian War, France, the great European power, was on one side, and the Algerian people, who wanted freedom, were on the other. After a long and bloody struggle, Algeria was liberated in 1962. France finally had to retreat, but the cemeteries of Algeria still remind us of the cost of this struggle. Force had temporarily maintained control, but the will of the people could not be suppressed.
The land of Afghanistan is another painful example of this history. During the Soviet-Afghan War, which was actually a Soviet-American war, military force was used to achieve its goals, but a decade later the Soviet Union had to withdraw from Afghanistan. Even after that, the country remained in the grip of civil war. Then in 2001, the US and its allies began a war with their own recent Afghan allies, which lasted for twenty years. Despite the most modern weapons and a global alliance, lasting peace could not be established in Afghanistan, and eventually foreign forces had to withdraw. All this highlights the fact that wars can win land, but not hearts.
The greatest harm of war is that it makes states captive to militarism. A large part of the budget is spent on weapons instead of education, health and development. Public welfare fades into the background and society begins to live in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity. The wounds of one generation are transferred to the psyche of the next generation. If the seeds of hatred are sown, the harvest of peace will not grow.
It is true that sometimes states are forced to go to war to defend themselves, but the difference between defensive necessity and offensive strategy should be clear. The real wisdom is to prevent conflicts from reaching the point where they have to take up arms. Strong diplomacy, a policy based on justice, is the foundation of lasting peace.
Today’s world is a world of interdependence. The unrest in one region affects the entire world. The very idea of ​​a major war in the presence of nuclear weapons is a question mark on the future of humanity. In such a situation, choosing the path of war is actually inviting collective harm.
Therefore, leaderships should prioritize long-term peace over short-term political gains. The media and intellectuals also have a duty to promote an atmosphere of dialogue and tolerance instead of war madness. Real power lies not in destruction, but in construction; real success does not lie in subduing the enemy, but in resolving conflicts fairly.
The lesson of history is clear that wars can change borders, but cannot win hearts. Permanent solutions to problems come only through justice, dialogue, and mutual respect. If the great powers and world leaders truly desire a secure and bright future for humanity, they must move away from the smell of gunpowder and embrace the scent of dialogue, for history has proven that guns create fear, while dialogue lays the foundation for trust and lasting peace.
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