Pakistan celebrates Defence Day with pride and patriotism
Regional peace hinges on resolution of Kashmir dispute: President Zardari
Kashmir unfinished agenda of partition: PM Shehbaz Sharif
Islamabad: Pakistan is marking Defence Day today with immense enthusiasm and patriotic fervor.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the day commemorates the historic events of September 6, 1965, when the Pakistan Armed Forces successfully defended the country against Indian aggression, thwarting its ambitions and shattering its dream of occupying Pakistani territory.
The celebrations began with a traditional salute of cannons and prayers at mosques across Pakistan, invoking blessings for the country’s security, progress, and stability. In Karachi, a solemn change of guards ceremony was conducted at the Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum, while Lahore witnessed a similar ceremony at the mausoleum of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the poet and philosopher of Pakistan.
It was on this very day in 1965 that the brave soldiers of the Pakistan Army countered all the enemy’s plans and defended the nation against hostile intentions. The nation pays tribute to those who showcased exceptional valor, sacrifice, and courage.
The main Defence Day and Martyrs’ Day ceremony is scheduled for tonight at 8 PM at the General Headquarters (GHQ). Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be the chief guest, with Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir and other senior civil and military leaders in attendance. During the ceremony, both the Prime Minister and the Army Chief will lay wreaths at the Martyrs’ Memorial and deliver addresses.
In his special message, President Asif Ali Zardari highlighted that Defence Day serves as a reminder of the nation’s steadfast resolve to uphold sovereignty. He emphasized that the armed forces remain ever-ready to face challenges to national integrity and underscored that lasting peace in the region hinges on addressing the plight of the Kashmiri people.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed these sentiments, noting the decisive defeat of the invading forces on September 6, 1965. He stressed that the unresolved Kashmir dispute remains the most significant barrier to peace and development in the region, describing it as an unfinished agenda from the partition of the subcontinent that must be resolved in line with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
As the nation commemorates the 59th Defence Day and Martyrs’ Day, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Service Chiefs have expressed pride in the victorious legacy of the 1965 conflict, celebrating it as a symbol of the country’s unyielding resolve and indomitable spirit.
