The most disliked peace, as Enlightenment thinkers warned, remains better than even the most just war.
For Pakistan, that lesson is no longer theoretical—it is a demand for survival, amplified today by the devastating suicide attack in Islamabad that killed a dozen innocent people and wounded many more. This attack is a stark reminder of the price ordinary Pakistanis pay for instability and division
Amid cascading violence and accelerating political crises, the only path away from the abyss lies in a new social contract—one where true democracy and the rule of law reign. The urgency now is not just moral but existential: Pakistan must immediately release all political prisoners, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan and other opposition leaders, who have languished behind bars for years under dubious charges and politicized judicial processes
This move is critical for reducing heightened tensions and enabling constructive dialogue.
The iron grip of military interference—now poised to be cemented by the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which threatens to enshrine unchecked supremacy for the armed forces at the expense of justice and the civilian government—must be immediately rolled back. Free and fair elections—unmanipulated by military or establishment forces—are essential to re-legitimize politics and restore the people’s voice
Terror and authoritarianism feed off each other in feedback cycles that risk becoming self-fulfilling prophecies—hyperstitions that threaten to make chaos and despair the default reality for millions
Accelerationist temptations—demanding collapse, engineering systemic breakdown, or seeking rebirth by force—must be resisted. Pakistan’s democratic forces must instead unite to heal wounds, not deepen them. Dialogue, demanding accountability for all—including those in uniform—is the only way forward.
History shows us the wreckage left by wars, coups, and despotic interventions. Even an imperfect peace offers Pakistan the prospect of national reconciliation, of rooting out extremism and lawless violence, and of returning to the rule of law where no one—civilian or military—is above justice. In the aftermath of today’s terror, the world is watching. Pakistan faces a choice: descent into further authoritarian control and endless cycles of conflict, or breaking free from this trap through bold action—opening prisons, ending meddling, and enabling transparent, credible elections
To choose peace now, however disliked, is not weakness—it is a heroic act of responsibility. Pakistan’s future depends not on engineered collapse or military dominance, but on the courage to let democratic principles—and accountability for all—lead the way.
Dr. Salman Ahmad, United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, Pakistani-American, Human Rights Defender and a famous rockstar, Founder of rock band “Junoon”
