Pakistan, June 19 -- Deterring men is more important than preventing the enemy. The misogyny embedded within the fabric of war and conflict has revealed the deeper issues we must confront collectively. Recent events, such as the India-Pakistan crisis, have reignited war-related discussions on social media. Still, an alarming aspect often goes unnoticed the jokes and narratives that degrade women, portraying them as weak or objects to be captured. These seemingly harmless comments reveal a troubling sexism that uses difficult times to suppress vulnerable genders, echoing outdated notions of maal-e-ghanimat (war booty).

Despite more than seven decades of independence, Pakistan still grapples with war crimes against women, rooted in societa...