Recently, I came across a video where an Indian army officer is seen training his soldiers, telling them to shout so loudly that their voices should reach Lahore. On the other side of the border, Pakistani soldiers are taught to stomp their boots so hard that India should “feel the heat.”
Let’s be honest.
Neither has ever happened.
No voice has reached Lahore.
No boot stomp has made Delhi tremble.
But what has happened is far more serious.
Wars have been fought.
Billions have been spent.
Generations have been raised on hostility.
Money that could have gone into science, technology, universities, and student development has instead been poured into weapons and defense systems. Young minds were trained to see each other as enemies rather than competitors in progress.
While we stayed stuck in this endless rivalry, China quietly moved forward.
China built world-class infrastructure.
China developed Huawei and 5G networks.
China became a leader in electric vehicles like BYD.
China turned itself into a global exporter of technology.
They invested in innovation, not noise.
Around us are countries like Singapore, New Zealand, and Switzerland, nations that don’t rely on aggressive militarism, yet consistently rank among the most developed in the world. Their strength comes from education, institutions, and human development.
Let me be clear:
This is not an argument against having a strong military.
Every country needs defense. China has a powerful army. The USA has a powerful army. Pakistan should have a strong army. India should too.
But the real question is: how long will we keep fighting each other while the world moves ahead?
If we must compete, let’s compete in:
- Science
- Technology
- Human rights
- Education
- Innovation
Let’s compete over who treats their citizens better.
Let’s compete over whose universities produce better researchers.
Let’s compete over whose startups solve real problems.
Instead, what we often see is a culture of silencing voices, discouraging criticism, and branding disagreement as betrayal. As long as this culture survives, Pakistan, and the entire region, will struggle to progress.
True patriotism is not loud slogans or aggressive speeches.
True patriotism is progress.
A love for one’s country that does not produce development is meaningless. It is just noise. Nationalism without growth is empty pride.
Real حبِ وطن (love for the homeland) is when your country educates its youth, protects human rights, supports innovation, and builds a future.
Until we understand this, we will keep shouting across borders, while others quietly build tomorrow.
Stay safe.