Nation rallies behind forces on Marka-e-Haq first anniversary

RAWALPINDI:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan can neither be “intimidated nor subdued by any aggressor” as the nation prepares to mark the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq today with a high-profile ceremony at the General Headquarters (GHQ).

The prestigious ceremony commemorating Pakistan’s historic success in Marka-e-Haq will be held on Sunday at GHQ, with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Staff (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir attending as the chief guest.

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf will also participate in the event.

The ceremony will begin with the laying of a floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada, where smartly turned-out contingents of the three armed forces will present a salute.

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will address the gathering and deliver an important speech highlighting the significance of Marka-e-Haq and the sacrifices rendered for the defence of the country.

In a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military said that the brief conflict demonstrated Pakistan’s measured and resolute response and “exposed adversarial conspiracies, false flag narratives and disinformation campaigns, diminishing their credibility internationally”.

The ISPR said that Marka-e-Haq is a “defining landmark” in the nation’s journey.

“Marka-i-Haq has become a defining landmark in the nation’s journey, reflecting national resolve, military excellence, and strategic maturity.”

“Despite facing conventional and hybrid challenges, including proxy terrorism, the Armed Forces demonstrated superior operational competence across land, air, sea, cyber, and information domains,” the statement added.

According to ISPR, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf also congratulated the nation and all ranks of the armed forces on the day.

The statement added that the anniversary is being observed with “deep reverence, gratitude, and national fervour”, adding that the day stands as a testament to the “enduring spirit of courage, professionalism, and unity”.

In the aftermath of Marka-e-Haq, Pakistan bolstered its defence capabilities and reinforced full-spectrum deterrence despite a disparity in resources, ISPR stated, adding that the occasion is a testament to the military’s “preparedness, dedication, and professionalism, which decisively strengthened public confidence in their armed forces”.

“The anniversary also reaffirms Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty while promoting peace and stability in the region,” the statement read.

“Pakistan believes that sustainable peace in South Asia can only be achieved through meaningful dialogue, mutual respect, and adherence to international law and principles of justice.”

‘Peace-loving yet courageous’

President Asif Ali Zardari also paid tribute to the nation and the armed forces on the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq.

According to a statement issued by the President’s Office, the president said CDF Munir’s leadership, strategy and “courageous decisions” were key to the success of Marka-e-Haq.

He also lauded the air chief and the Pakistan Air Force for their “exceptional skill and professionalism”.

President Zardari praised the naval chief and naval forces, describing their full operational readiness and defence capabilities as a source of national pride.

“Pakistan is a responsible and peace-loving state. By giving a strong but measured response to enemy aggression, we have conveyed our defensive capability to the world,” the president said.

He added that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir must be resolved in accordance with United Nations resolutions.

 

PM Shehbaz Sharif

“Marka-e-Haq bears testimony that Pakistanis are a peace-loving, yet courageous, resilient, and dignified nation who can neither be intimidated nor subdued by any aggressor,” the premier said in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Expressing gratitude to the Almighty, the prime minister said the day commemorates Pakistan’s “valiant stand in adversity” and the “crushing defeat” inflicted upon India.

“The nation pays tribute to its martyrs, their families and the ghazis who stood like a steel wall to defend their homeland,” the statement said.

The premier said the well-coordinated and synchronised response by Pakistan’s armed forces across land, sea, air and cyber domains established Pakistan as an “invincible nation”.

He said Marka-e-Haq is etched in history as an “epic feat of achieving overwhelming dominance over an enemy, bent on unprovoked aggression”.

PM Shehbaz maintained that India was administered a “heavy dose of reality serum to dispel its illusion of invincibility”.

He maintained that there should be no doubt that any aggression aimed at undermining the country would be met with an immediate, befitting and full-spectrum response, adding that the nation “stand determined and vigilant to ensure security” along its frontiers.

The premier also paid tribute to Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his bold and courageous leadership, and to Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber and Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf for their strategic prudence, the statement added.

“We also salute officers and soldiers of the valiant Armed Forces, who, with unflinching support of the Pakistani nation, inscribed a new chapter in Pakistan-India context,” the PMO statement said.

He maintained that Pakistan clearly demonstrated its desire for peace during the conflict, while also re-establishing deterrence and safeguarding its security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Referring to terrorism in Pakistan, the prime minister said the nation remains “steadfast in our efforts to root out ‘Fitna al Khawarij’ and ‘Fitna al Hindustan’ and take the fight against terrorism to its logical conclusion”.

On IIOJK, the premier maintained that it remains an unfinished agenda of Partition and that strategic stability in the region would remain a distant dream without resolution of the Kashmir issue.

“Strategic stability in South Asia, without the resolution of Kashmir issue, would remain a distant dream which needs to be resolved in accordance with the United Nations resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Pakistan shall continue to stand by the fundamental right of freedom and self-determination of Kashmiri people,” the statement said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz further said that, a year on, Pakistan is recognised as a responsible nation that “not only knows how to defend itself, but has also emerged as a guarantor of global peace and stability”.

Touching on recent efforts to end the Iran-US conflict, the premier said the country had earned worldwide acknowledgement for its role as a key mediator and its efforts to end the violence.

“Commemorating the sacrifices of our martyrs during Marka-e-Haq, let us pledge to face our adversaries like a ‘Steel Wall’ and work selflessly for the destined glory of this great homeland,” the statement concluded.