Sitting on ‘silent’ trees in Lahore’s Nasir Bagh, birds from various species are discussing tense situation after a gun attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam, a beautiful mountainous region. A cuckoo – a melodious singer that is living on a tree near the Gandhi Square in Guwalmandi – shared with ‘weary’ birds what she knows about a ‘sudden’ tension between Pakistan and India over what the birds collectively call a ‘fight with no result, and no meaning’ but destruction for humans, humanity and beyond.
Some experts consider humans as the most dominant on the Earth, as they divided the planet into various nation states with heavily-fortified borders. Whenever a nation felt ‘threatened’ or sought to expand its power, it often choses the path of war an option that brings nothing but destruction. After the Pahalgam incident, a ‘war hysteria’ is affecting not just humans, but also birds, animals, fishes and overall the nature on both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border besides two sides of the Line of Control.
Let’s expand peace beyond human interests; work for well-being of all living beings who share this Earth with us
Who will take responsibility for those innocent species if a war begins in the South Asian region? These innocent creatures are armless, scared, and have ‘no idea’ where to go. Before the partition of Indian Subcontinent in 1947, no one asked birds and animals where they wanted to live, they simply stayed where they were. And whenever war-like situations occur, they are the ones who also suffer, silently praying for the safety of themselves and their children.
In the name of war, those who seek destruction rarely think about humans, animals, birds, fishes, or even trees. They are people driven by low self-esteem and a lack of empathy. What are they really trying to prove in the name of war? Do they only count human deaths? What about the other species that have lived alongside us since the beginning of the Earth? Failing to choose peaceful coexistence, if Pakistan and India start a war, every species, humans and other than humans will suffer.
All will face the unforgiving reality of war and curse those who allowed it to begin. We are already witnessing such devastation in Palestine – a tiny nation in Middle East where innocent people struggle to survive and animals, too, endure consequences. Birds are left with nowhere to rest, as trees are reduced to rubble. The pain of war is never limited to borders or headlines, it reaches every living soul caught in its path. In contrast to extremists, only humans in Pakistan and India must stand together in support of peace, and peaceful coexistence.
It’s time for humans to become guardians not destroyers of voiceless life that depends on us
We must remember that destruction will never be a one-sided phenomenon. It is always easy to start a war but stopping it is next to impossible. If a war is allowed to begin, then humans must bear full responsibility for the deaths of not only other humans, but also the birds, animals, fishes, and trees that suffer silently. These creatures cannot speak for themselves. As humans, it is our moral duty to speak on their behalf and to say a firm, collective “no” to war. If the birds and the animals could speak, they would curse humanity for the destruction we’ve caused.
Even outside of the war, we humans destroy sanctuaries of birds and animals by cutting down forests, and polluting rivers while expanding cities. If we could listen to their hearts, we would feel just as anxious about war as they do. When conflict breaks out, the aid and relief efforts are focused solely on humans — no one think about the animals left behind, the birds with no trees to land on, the fishes trapped in polluted waters. What is their fault? Perhaps, it is simply existing in a world where humans are led by ego, and where fear fuels decisions that cause irreversible harm to everything around them.
Let’s stop being manipulated by warmongers and start thinking beyond ourselves about the countless species that coexist with us. We have the gift of speech, let’s use it to stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Let’s say no to violence, not just for our own survival, but for theirs too. Let’s expand peace beyond treaties, borders, and human interests, and work towards well-being of all living beings who share this Earth with us. It’s time for humans to become guardians not destroyers of the voiceless life that depends on us.
