THE AGE OF WAR IS OVER
Pyrrhus was a king of ancient Greece. He was born in 319 BCE and died in 272 BCE. In 279 BCE, he fought a battle against the Romans. Pyrrhus won the battle, but when the fighting ended, his economy and his political and military strength were completely destroyed. This event gave rise to the term Pyrrhic Victory, meaning a devastating victory.
In ancient times, a Pyrrhic victory—or devastating triumph—was rare. But today, with advanced weaponry, every war becomes destructive. The only distinction between the victor and the vanquished is how their news is reported; in reality, their condition remains the same. Today, both the defeated and the victors suffer losses.
In today’s world, war is tantamount to suicide; it can no longer serve as a means of achieving any positive objective. If a nation has been deprived of something, the proper response is patience, not war, for war would only compound its loss with humiliation. When peace is disturbed, the answer is not war but dialogue and negotiation.
An example of this can be seen in Pakistan’s history. Pakistan was created in 1947, and at that time, Bangladesh was its eastern region. Later, circumstances evolved such that Bangladesh fully separated from Pakistan. Eventually, Pakistan chose to pursue realism and exercised patience during this territorial loss. If Pakistan had not taken this approach, it might have destroyed the rest of the country in an attempt to reclaim the lost territory. The outcome of war is that what remains is also lost; in effect, partial deprivation turns into total deprivation.
It is a fact that war is no longer an option for anyone. In today’s conflicts, there are losses for both the loser and the winner. However, there is no need to despair about this. If the modern age has, on the one hand, made war impossible, then on the other, it has brought about revolutionary changes that mean deprivation doesn’t have to be final. Today, any individual or group—regardless of circumstances—can start anew and achieve even greater success than before. After a loss, one can discover new opportunities for success.
In today’s world, communication has eliminated the distinction between small and large countries. The modern era of globalization has essentially made geographical boundaries meaningless. As a result, war is no longer a healthy or justified option. Today, war is not just conflict; it is a destructive event fueled by anger, hatred, and despair, rather than careful planning. War is now simply a reckless act of self-destruction, not a rational or constructive action.
