Pakistan’s Dark Legacy: The Osama Hideout, Taliban’s Safe Haven, and Lashkar’s Playground

Islamabad, Pakistan – As Pakistan marks another National Day, the country’s celebrations remain overshadowed by the dark legacy of its military—a force that has dictated the nation’s trajectory since its birth. Pakistan observes its National Day on March 23 every year. It marks the adoption of the Lahore Resolution in 1940, which eventually led to the creation of Pakistan in 1947.  However, the country’s celebrations remain overshadowed by the dark legacy of its military—a force that has dictated the nation’s trajectory since its birth. The Pakistan Army, revered by some as the guardian of national security, has long operated as an unelected power centre, suppressing dissent, orchestrating political coups, and perpetuating gross human rights abuses.

From the genocide in Bangladesh to the crushing of opposition in Balochistan and its deep entanglement in political affairs, the military’s unchecked power has not only destabilized Pakistan but also left a trail of suffering and repression.

A Bloodstained Past: The 1971 Bangladesh Genocide

Pakistan’s military excesses stretch back to its formative years, but none are as horrifying as the atrocities committed during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. What began as a crackdown on Bengali nationalists spiralled into one of the worst massacres of the 20th century. Pakistani forces, under the infamous "Operation Searchlight," butchered hundreds of thousands, raped an estimated 200,000 women, and systematically targeted intellectuals to cripple the new nation.

The Hamoodur Rahman Commission, an internal probe, acknowledged the widespread war crimes, but no military official was ever held accountable. Instead, Pakistan continues to sanitize its past, refusing to confront the truth of its army’s actions.

A ‘Democracy’ on a Leash

While Pakistan outwardly maintains a democratic facade, its civilian governments remain mere puppets in the hands of Rawalpindi’s top brass. Every elected leader who has attempted to assert independence has faced the military’s wrath. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s dramatic fall from grace in 2022 was the latest reminder. Once backed by the establishment, Khan’s attempt to chart an independent course led to his unceremonious ousting via a no-confidence motion—an event widely believed to have been engineered by the military.

The pattern is unmistakable. From the removal of Nawaz Sharif in 1999 to the repeated manipulations of election outcomes, the army ensures that only compliant politicians survive. Even today, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a coalition government, operates under the military’s watchful eye, ensuring that opposition figures remain sidelined or behind bars.

The Iron Grip of Pakistan’s Intelligence Agencies

Pakistan’s intelligence network, led by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has cemented itself as an enforcer of military rule. Those who speak out against the establishment disappear without a trace. Human rights groups estimate that thousands have been subjected to enforced disappearances, with many never resurfacing.

The crackdown on the media is particularly severe. The killing of at least seven journalists in 2024 alone, including high-profile abductions and arrests, underscores the brutal lengths to which the military will go to suppress truth. The abduction of journalist Syed Farhad Ali Shah in May and the arrest of Asad Ali Toor for exposing military excesses highlight the dire state of press freedom. Meanwhile, the Punjab government’s introduction of draconian defamation laws in 2024 effectively criminalized criticism of the military.

Even social media has not been spared. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter) were repeatedly shut down during the February 2024 elections to prevent public discourse. The military, fearing dissent, ensured that digital spaces remained tightly controlled.

Balochistan: The Land of the Disappeared

Balochistan remains Pakistan’s bleeding wound—a region where the military’s iron fist has crushed aspirations for autonomy. Decades of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and systematic oppression have left the province in a perpetual state of unrest.

Organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have extensively documented military-led abductions, with activists and political leaders routinely whisked away by security forces. Families of the disappeared are left in limbo, their voices drowned out by state repression. Rather than addressing the legitimate grievances of the Baloch people, Pakistan’s military has opted for brute force, fueling further insurgency rather than quelling it.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the ‘War on Terror’

Pakistan’s former tribal regions, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and erstwhile FATA, have been ravaged by military operations that have displaced millions. Under the guise of counterterrorism, entire villages have been levelled, with thousands of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.

Despite the success of the military claim in combating militancy, it is no secret that the same establishment has played a double game—harbouring, supporting, and weaponizing extremist groups when convenient. The resurgence of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the ongoing insurgencies in the northwest expose the military’s incompetence and complicity.

Pakistan’s Military and Kashmir: A One-Sided Narrative

Pakistan frequently raises the issue of Kashmir on global platforms, decrying alleged Indian human rights violations. However, within Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the army exerts totalitarian control. Political activists are arbitrarily detained, protests are violently crushed, and any demand for self-determination is met with brutal force. While Islamabad presents itself as the "champion of Kashmiris," it systematically denies basic freedoms to those under its own administration. The hypocrisy is glaring, but international scrutiny remains disproportionately fixated elsewhere.

Despite its documented human rights abuses, Pakistan’s military enjoys relative impunity on the world stage. Global powers, particularly the United States and China, have turned a blind eye in pursuit of their geopolitical interests. The billions in military aid and strategic partnerships have only reinforced the army’s unchecked power.

Even the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which placed Pakistan on its grey list due to terror financing concerns, failed to push for broader military accountability. While Pakistan has made cosmetic adjustments to avoid blacklisting, its military continues to protect and patronize extremist groups when convenient.

While movements like the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) have attempted to challenge military dominance, their leaders have faced brutal crackdowns. The military’s stranglehold over the judiciary further ensures that legal avenues for justice remain blocked.

For Pakistan to break free from its military’s grip, genuine democratic reforms are needed. However, history suggests that any such movement will be met with repression, censorship, and bloodshed. The army’s entrenchment in all aspects of governance makes it unlikely that civilian supremacy will be restored anytime soon.

The Future: A Nation Held Hostage by Its Own Military

As Pakistan marks another National Day, its citizens must reckon with a hard truth—freedom remains a distant dream in a country where the military dictates every aspect of life. From war crimes in Bangladesh to mass disappearances in Balochistan and the silencing of political opponents, Pakistan’s army has left an indelible stain on the country’s history.

The dream of democracy in Pakistan remains just that—a dream. Until the military’s unchecked power is dismantled, Pakistan will continue to be a state where fear reigns, dissent is crushed, and the voices of its people remain suffocated under the boots of its generals.