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Support for our colleague, Muhammad Khurshid
As many of you know, one of our regular contributors, Muhammad Khurshid, reports from the volatile tribal areas along the Pak-Afghan border. Muhammad has been diligent in reporting on the events playing out in this region, his home, as well as Pakistan as a whole.
Lately, escalating violence has been spreading throughout the tribal regions and causing terror and fear amongst the people. In the last few months, I have been fortunate to strike up a friendship with Muhammad and his beautiful wife and children. Through email and photos, I have gotten a glimpse into the lives of these new friends living on the edge of a very dangerous situation. In viewing a photo of his family, and by all accounts, one would see what appeared to be a typical, normal and happy family. But there is nothing normal about living in a perpetual state of fear.
Today, I received an email from Muhammad asking for my good wishes and prayers. Muhammad has been rather stoic in caring for his family while reporting on the violence, but today, in a few words, he asked for my help in the small way of compassion and concern. His email was short but expressive – he said that war had nearly broken out in his area and he and his wife and children were in a state of shock and fear.
While I did not ask his permission to write about this personal account, in the past, Muhammad has posted very personal and heartfelt diaries about his concern for his family, his fears living amongst extremists, the resurgence of the Taliban, and corrupt government officials.
I cannot fathom what life must be like for Muhammad and his family, but I do know that in a time of uncertainty, fear, terror of the unknown, and the instinctual desire to keep your family healthy and safe, having support of any kind is not only appreciated, but needed.
When Muhammad has asked for our help here at OpEdNews, it has been nothing more than a humble request for those on the “outside” – his colleagues, friends and readers at OpEdNews - to know of what he is going through, of his families suffering, and for our collective good wishes and prayers. While we cannot help him or keep his family safe in any tangible way, perhaps if we let him know that he is not alone – that we are aware of his plight and concern for his family – then just maybe we can make a brighter, albeit momentary difference in an otherwise darkening abyss.
Feeling isolated from the outside world and alone during a time of crisis is not something that anyone should live through. I believe that Muhammad does feel this sense of isolation, being removed from a world that can hear his voice, hear the cries of his family and friends.
I am not always good at commenting on pieces, but I ask those who have the time and share my concern for Muhammad’s well-being and that of his wife and three children, take a moment to offer your best wishes – sometimes fewer words, but from the heart, speak volumes and make all the difference in the world.
The following is an excerpt from today’s Associated Press from reporter Riaz Khan.
Swat, Pakistan: Islamic militants reportedly captured and beheaded three militiamen and a police officer on Friday while government troops and helicopter gunships attacked the nearby stronghold of a radical cleric.
The fighting came a day after a suicide bombing killed 20 people in another part of Swat district in the tribal regions along the Pak-Afghan border.
After killing the 4 security officers, the militants displayed their severed heads in Iman Dheri village near Swat.
Hundreds of villagers fled as the two sides battled, firing rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and other weapons.
“I never saw this type of violence in my life,” said a 70-year old shop owner in Swat, who sobbed as he watched thick smoke rising from the trees set afire on a nearby mountain where fighting also broke out.
Thank you for reading this and posting your comments of support for Muhammad.
Jan Baumgartner writer/managing editor for OpEdNews
