Opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai has ignited fresh outrage by calling the Pakistan Army a “force of four districts” during a National Assembly session. The remark, widely condemned as baseless and divisive, conveniently overlooks the staggering sacrifices our soldiers have made to keep the country safe. A senior security official described the statement as “extremely regrettable and based on falsehoods,” underlining that the army stands above regional or ethnic labels, it is the shield of the entire nation.
The Real Picture: Heavy Price Paid by the Pakistan Army
While Achakzai pushes a narrow, regional narrative, the facts speak louder:
- 3,141 personnel martyred in the war on terror over the last five years.
- Between 2021 and February 2026: 170 officers, 212 Junior Commissioned Officers, and 2,759 soldiers gave their lives.
- In Balochistan alone, security forces have eliminated over 200 terrorists amid brutal attacks, including targeted beheadings.
These are not abstract figures. They represent families shattered, futures lost, and daily courage in the face of an enemy that thrives on division. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif rightly called Achakzai’s words “irresponsible” and a deliberate attempt to malign a national institution that has bled for every Pakistani.
Why the Remark Hurts National Unity
Achakzai stood by his comment, invoking Pashtun historical sacrifices and demanding a bigger share in governance. Yet launching such an attack from the floor of parliament does nothing to solve real issues, it only weakens the very unity needed to defeat terrorism and build peace.
Recent progress in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa shows encouraging signs, with young people proudly supporting the armed forces during campus visits. No inflammatory soundbite can erase the deep bond between the nation and its defenders.
The senior official made it clear: the war against terror is everyone’s responsibility, not just the army’s, police’s, or Frontier Corps’. Pointing fingers at “Fitna-ul-Hindustan” for sponsoring chaos in Balochistan only highlights how external enemies benefit when Pakistanis turn against each other.
Time to Choose Respect Over Division
Achakzai says he salutes an army that stays within the Constitution. If that is genuine, he should refrain from rhetoric that undermines those very soldiers who uphold that Constitution through daily sacrifice. The Pakistan Army is not “of four districts.” It belongs to every street, village, and city in the country. Its identity is forged in the blood of martyrs from all provinces. In this moment of the Pakistan Army sacrifices Achakzai controversy, the message is simple: honor the fallen, reject divisive attacks, and stand united. Anything less dishonors the 3,141 heroes who paid the ultimate price so the rest of us can live in peace.