Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries that still have polio, as the disease is sustained by the dangerous activities of terror groups such as TTP. Such terrorists have regularly disturbed Pakistan’s attempt to become polio-free by launching a series of attacks on the health workers giving polio vaccines in the most remote, weakly protected, and underdeveloped parts of the country.
Children in these regions, which are mostly remote and lack needed amenities, are already under terrible conditions caused by the TTP. The complications made by the TTP have left the health sector unable to help them. Because of these intentional disruptions, Pakistan’s public health as well as the worldwide campaign against polio are at great risk.
For carrying out such an important duty, over 200 members of polio teams, including the support staff, security guardians, and police escorts, have been killed in the violent attacks by the TTP. The blood of innocent victims painted Pakistan’s history in a way that clearly shows how these terrorists act against Islam by destroying its main values of benevolence, safeguarding life, and caring for those who need help. It is shocking that the TTP believes those trying to protect the young from disease should be eliminated, whereas the killers try to excuse their actions by calling themselves religious.
Caring for people’s health to preserve life is very important in Islam, according to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The things the TTP does are plainly opposite to the lessons of Islam, proving that they do not know its values and do intend to cause fear, disorder, and a decline in society. By going after these healthcare workers, the TTP makes it clear that kids, families, and communities don’t matter to them, they are ready to sacrifice everyone’s future just to follow their wrong ideas.
Such crimes cause effects that are felt not only by one family, but also by the community as a whole. Whenever a polio team is attacked, it hurts Pakistan’s countrywide effort to ridding the country of a disease that has been cleared in most other parts of the world. Such cowardly actions stop millions of Pakistani children in tribal and poor regions from getting their important vaccines. If these children did not get vaccinated, they would still be at risk of getting paralysis from the polio virus, an illness that lasts their entire life.
As a result, the actions of the TTP affect all inhabitants of the nation, rather than just polio workers. They are preventing Pakistan from being declared free of polio, which forces many children to live with disabilities for the rest of their lives. Hatred for the nation’s future is really clear in the tribal belt, where the Taliban initially formed and where the polio vaccination campaign faces the toughest blockades.
In fact, these settings make children the most vulnerable, so getting vaccinated is become especially important. Sabotaging these campaigns, the TTP uncovers how much hatred they have for the people of Pakistan and not only for the state. According to the terrorists, they are helping the Pashtuns or tribes, but it is the Pashtun sons and daughters who they shot and crippled with terror.
These terrible actions concern Pakistan as well as the rest of the world. The World Health Organization, UNICEF, and other worldwide organizations have been working with Pakistan for a long time to eliminate polio everywhere. Due to the TTP, Pakistan misses its chance to vaccinate people and the virus remains, which could impact other countries and halt the worldwide progress achieved so far. In this way, TTP’s actions imperil Pakistan as well as the global work to prevent polio like they did with smallpox.
They regard the continued presence of polio in Pakistan as the biggest challenge standing in the way of the world’s polio eradication. Whenever someone threatens a polio worker, it delays getting rid of the threat to kids not only in Pakistan but worldwide. As crimes committed while wearing the mask of religion and twisted beliefs, they also constitute crimes against humanity as stated in international law.
Intentionally harming health workers, halting medical treatment for many, and endangering children to diseases is an act of terror that goes against both human rights and the laws of both war and peace. When the TTP kills people who do not take part in the fighting, it is considered crimes against humanity, which means those acts stand out as extreme crimes and legal offenses. The group pays no attention to people’s lives, neglects child rights, and disregards the duties of society to help the vulnerable, so their ideology stands for violence, hate, and lacks any mercy.
All religions oppose cruelty like this; nobody has a reason to murder people who are saving lives. Therefore, the TTP’s statement that they protect Islam is found to be entirely false. Their actions show that they desire to destroy and turn their backs on both Islam and all that humanity tries to achieve.
Furthermore, these attacks endanger the people and the medical teams when they cause mental trauma. When a polio worker dies or is injured, it worries those people who are willing to help. Many people who were interested in health work have backed out because they prefer to stay safe rather than risk something that is usually considered selfless. These workers’ families ask them not to return to working in agriculture. In the places where Covid is worst, many communities keep their doors shut to vaccinators because they are terrified that their homes could be targeted.
Thanks to the TTP’s terror, Pakistan’s experiences fear and this fear can be considered a victory for the group and a loss for the country. This issue reduces the government’s capability to help its people and weakens the confidence everyone has in public health. As a result, the TTP succeeds in making people question the state’s strength and ability to defend those committed to helping the community. As a result, they do not just kill people, they also plan attacks that ruin the care and governance system in the nation.
It is important that the citizens in vulnerable communities understand that these terrorists are dangers to the state as well as to their own children’s future. The campaign ought to demonstrate the wrongness of TTP actions and how they neglect human welfare, using divine scriptures to show the need to look after life and the community. Leaders from the community, respected by those living there, have to be heard over the TTP’s misinformation.
Let the survivors of polio and the families of dead health workers appear in public to talk about their struggles, so the TTP is seen in a negative light by society. The nation’s security forces should also boost their efforts to guard health campaigns so that workers can concentrate on their work rather than be afraid of attacks.
In short, the group’s attacks on workers in the polio vaccination drive are threatening Pakistan’s future and risk the lives of millions of children everywhere. Fundamentalism is rooted in not knowing the truth, mistreating humanity, and lying, turning basic Islam into something wrong and against all values. Such terrorists prove they are disrespectful not only to life, religion, and their country but also to every belief and value.
Every citizen, official, or person in the government is obligated to encourage rejection of their hate ideology and support the people who work to stop diseases from harming young generations. Pakistan can beat this danger and look forward to a safer future, free of polio and terrorism, when people join their forces, act bravely, and speak about the truth.
