A state of the art rehabilitation clinic in Pakistan to rehabilitate maimed Pakistani soldiers in fight against militants

Pakistan Army is engaged for almost a decade now to root out militancy in the country and is operating in some of the most formidable, inhospitable and difficult areas of the Pakistan - never stepped in by army before.

Although, the success rate of rooting out militants is very high, it is at the price of life of the soldiers engaged in the war on terror.

Those who lay down their lives, attain the highest honour any Muslim and soldier can achieve - the martyrdom. It may be added that nearly 3,000 soldiers have laid down their lives in defence of the motherland since 2004 - more than the NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

Those who survive and come back alive and unharmed are willing to go back again to take sides with their commrades en arm once again.

But there is a fairly large number of soldiers, who are reported injured, 9,000 to be exact. And out of these there are many who in reality have been rendered maimed for life by losing their limbs and by suffering emotional and mental stresses.

A Pakistan army soldier who was injured during fighting against Islamist militants lies on a treatment table as a doctor exercises his wrist

Had it not been a state of art rehab facility managed and operated by the Pakistan Army, these soldiers would have lived a crippled life for ever. The most common injuries the rehab hospital has had to deal with have been from homemade bombs the militants bury throughout the tribal region, said the head of the institute, Maj. Gen. Akthar Waheed. These weapons also pose the greatest threat to U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Artificial limbs specially crafted for the maimed soldiers

Captain Kaleem Nasar was part of an operation elsewhere in the northwest in January of this year when he stepped on a bomb. The explosion blew off one of his legs, and the other had to be amputated below the knee. He visited the rehab hospital recently so doctors could work on his artificial limbs.

Despite his injuries, he does not regret going to war against the Taliban and hopes he can return to active duty.

'I am satisfied I have done something for my country,' said the 27-year-old soldier. 'If I can go back to that area and serve my country, God willing I will.'

But Waheed, the head of the hospital, is worried that Pakistani troops wounded in battle don't receive enough recognition in the country. None of Pakistan's civilian leaders or other politicians have visited the hospital in the five years he has been running it, he said.

'They need much more recognition because they have done so much sacrifice for the cause,' said Waheed.

This post is based on a report in Daily Mail England - but the irony is that none of Pakistan's news channels and newspapers have ever talked of this facility and commended the efforts of creating such a facility in Pakistan to help rehabilitate the lives of so many limbless soldiers and young officers. 

Not even a single politician seems to have visited the facility and encouraged these badly hurt and wounded soldiers, who despite their wounds, both mental and physical, are charged with such a high level of motivation and patriotism that they are still willing to go back and fight.

Captain Qasim with brain injuries undergoing rehab exercises - raises 'V' message for his comrades fighting militants

Captain Qasim Abbas with brain injuries when asked would he still go back and fight? The proud captain said, though slowly because of his brain injuries:

'Fight, fight, keep fighting,' but with purpose. When asked if he had a message for his colleagues still battling the Taliban. He raised his fist in the air to drive home his point.

via Mail Online
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Posted in: Maimed Soldiers,Pakistan Army,Point to Ponder,Rehab Centre,War on Terror