Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, and President Dr Arif Alvi honoured the brave men and women of the armed services on Wednesday, Defence Day and Martyrs Day.
According to official reports, Prime Minister Kakar paid his respects to the brave troops who had given their lives for Pakistan by laying a floral wreath at the Pakistan Monument, also known as the Yadgar-e-Shuhada (Martyrs’ Monument). The intention of this sombre act was to “pay homage and tribute” to these courageous national heroes.
Pakistani Prime Minister Kakar sent a touching message to the armed forces on this momentous day, assuring them of the country’s full support as they work to fight those with “evil designs” on the country’s integrity and prosperity. He said, “Our martyrs who embraced martyrdom for the sake of their people and the country can never be forgotten and will always remain in our hearts.” This is an eloquent tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the martyrs.
Kakar highlighted the Holy Quran’s high regard for martyrs and described the special moment when soldiers experience immortality at the hands of death.
In a statement released in honour of this memorial day, President Alvi likewise honoured the service and sacrifice of the armed forces. He reminisced on the pivotal role played by the Pakistani people and their armed forces in the 1965 war, emphasising their amazing bravery, indomitable spirit, and unyielding national will.
Dr. Alvi emphasised the war as a metaphor for readiness, competence, patriotism, and selflessness.
President Alvi lauded the bravery of “our ghazis” in the 1965 war and the armed forces’ constant display of bravery and dedication in the fight against terrorism over the past two decades. He said, “Our successes in this asymmetrical war are [a] testimony to the ability of our armed forces to develop into a distinctive force that can meet the demands of modern combat.”
For the sake of regional stability and progress, he stressed the need of resolving the Kashmir dispute in line with UN Security Council Resolutions, and he reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace and peaceful coexistence. The president reaffirmed Pakistan’s diplomatic and moral backing for the Kashmiris’ just fight for independence.
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The military’s extraordinary performance in the 1965 war was recognised in a statement released by then Chief of Staff General Munir. He emphasised the strong sense of national unity and solidarity that existed at the time, and how it was crucial in fending off the enemy’s attack. General Munir credited the Pakistan Army’s stellar reputation around the world to the force’s strict adherence to professional norms and practises.
The unshakeable dedication of every officer and soldier to place the defence of the country above all else was emphasised, along with the Pakistan Army’s defining traits of religion, piety, and the spirit of Jihad for the cause of Allah.
General Munir said that certain people had tried to drive a wedge between the people and the army, but that they had failed because the military’s unyielding struggle against terrorism shows how dedicated they are to Pakistan’s safety and security. He went on to emphasise the significance of mutual cooperation to accelerate Pakistan’s economic development, noting the symbiotic tie between a strong economy and a strong defence.
