True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.

Introduction

Many societies appear calm on the surface while injustice simmers beneath. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote that "true peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice." He was responding to those who preferred quiet over change in the segregated American South. His insight applies to nations and to the world: a peace imposed on the oppressed is fragile; only a peace built on justice endures.

Negative and positive peace

The Norwegian scholar Johan Galtung distinguished negative peace — the absence of direct violence — from positive peace — the presence of justice, equality and cooperation. He described poverty, discrimination and denial of rights as structural violence. A society may have no war yet suffer violence built into its structures.

Why peace without justice fails

The Treaty of Versailles (1919) ended the First World War but imposed humiliating terms on Germany, sowing resentment exploited by Hitler. Apartheid South Africa maintained order through repression, but violence and resistance grew until the system collapsed. Colonial empires kept a "peace" that ended in wars of liberation. In occupied territories, from Kashmir to Palestine, periods of calm repeatedly give way to uprisings because the underlying injustice remains.

Justice as the foundation of peace

After the Second World War, the Allies chose a different path with Germany: the Marshall Plan, democratic institutions and integration into Europe produced lasting peace. South Africa's transition in 1994 combined majority rule with a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, preventing a feared civil war. Within nations, social justice — fair distribution of resources, rule of law and equal citizenship — reduces conflict and extremism.

Islamic perspective

Islam places justice at the heart of peace: "Indeed, Allah commands justice and good conduct" (An-Nahl 16:90); "Do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness" (Al-Ma'idah 5:8). The very word Islam is linked to peace (salam), and the Prophet's ﷺ state in Madinah established peace through a charter of rights and justice for all communities.

Application to Pakistan and the region

South Asia's "peace" between India and Pakistan has been a fragile absence of war, punctuated by crises, because the Kashmir dispute remains unresolved. Within Pakistan, grievances in Balochistan and former tribal areas, sectarian discrimination and economic inequality show that security operations alone cannot bring peace without justice, development and inclusion.

Counter-argument and response

Some argue that order must come first: without security, justice is impossible, and pursuing justice can provoke conflict. Stopping violence is indeed the first step — a ceasefire saves lives. But stability that ignores injustice only postpones conflict. Order and justice must advance together: security creates space for justice, and justice makes security last.

Building peace through justice

Resolve disputes according to international law and the will of the people; guarantee human rights and equal citizenship; ensure fair distribution of resources; strengthen independent courts and the rule of law; include marginalised groups in decision-making; address historical grievances through truth and reconciliation; and reduce poverty and inequality.

Conclusion

Silence is not peace, and calm is not justice. A peace that leaves people oppressed, excluded or humiliated is only a pause before the next conflict. As King understood, true peace is built on justice — in the courtroom, the marketplace and the corridors of power. For Pakistan, the region and the world, the path to lasting peace runs through justice.