Cautions against mistaking restraint for weakness
Terms Makkah defence pact a promise of peace
President, CDF at
VICTORY MONUMENT: Top civil and military leadership celebrates Independence Day at Yadgar-e-Fatah in Islamabad. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that while Pakistan sincerely desired peace, it would never allow that desire to be mistaken for weakness, declaring that any future challenge to the country’s sovereignty and security would be crushed with even greater force than the decisive victory of May 2025.
“We do not want war; we want peace. But the desire for peace should not be taken as weakness. We stand for peace with honour and dignity, those who, in the most difficult times, have become the guarantors of stability in this region,” the prime minister said addressing the ceremony held to mark the 79th Independence Anniversary of Pakistan and the inauguration of Yadgar-e-Fatah (Victory Monument) built to honour the sacrifices of the martyrs and commemorate the remarkable triumph during Marka-e-Haq of 2025.
The event was attended by President Asif Ali Zardari, Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, federal ministers, provincial political leadership, parliamentarians, diplomats and officers of the armed forces.
The prime minister told the gathering that the May 2025 Marka-e-Haq had enhanced Pakistan’s prestige in an extraordinary manner.
“If this reality has still not been understood by anyone, it is clear for them that they should remember their humiliating defeat, and if in future anyone, even by mistake, challenges Pakistan’s sovereignty and security, they will be given a crushing response with even greater force than in May 2025.”
He highlighted that after its defeat in Marka-e-Haq, India unilaterally and illegally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and proved itself an enemy of peace.
“I declare in clear words that every single drop of Pakistan’s water is our red line,” the prime minister said and warned that India would be given an appropriate response if the country did not mend its ways.
The prime minister, who earlier inaugurated the monument along with President Asif Ali Zardari, said that the Yadgar-e-Fatah stood as a living symbol of the nation’s resolve, the professional excellence of the armed forces and their superiority over the adversary.
He appreciated the Field Marshal’s guidance and the efforts of the whole team including laborers and engineers who ensured the completion of the project within eight months.
He extended heartfelt congratulations to the entire nation on the historic success in the Maarka-e-Haq and paid rich tribute to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his courageous and inspiring leadership that defeated the arrogant enemy.
He also acknowledged the outstanding role played by the Pakistan Air Force under Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu and the Pakistan Navy under Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf.
“This is not merely a structure of bricks and mortar. It is a tribute to the martyrs who laid down their lives in defence of the motherland, to the ghazis (veterans) who displayed unmatched bravery, and to the great nation that stood shoulder to shoulder with its armed forces in the most difficult times.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz also reiterated Pakistan’s principled support for the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people and the just resolution of the Palestine issue.
“On the Kashmir issue, our position is clear and categorical: we will continue to support the right of self-determination of the Kashmiris, will not let their sacrifices go in vain, and will continue political, diplomatic and moral support for their freedom from the clutches of Indian oppression – until the fundamental right of our Kashmiri brothers and sisters is granted to them.”
On Afghanistan, he advised the Afghan leadership to completely prevent the use of its soil for terrorism against Pakistan.
“We also want peace and stability in Afghanistan, but the use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan is unacceptable. We are each other’s neighbours. My sincere advice to the Afghan leadership is that they completely prevent their soil from becoming a sanctuary for terrorists.”
Highlighting Pakistan’s diplomatic achievements, Prime Minister Shehbaz referred to the mediation role between US and Iran as well as defence agreement with Saudi Arabia that has also now been joined by Turkiye.
“The Makkah Agreement is the promise of peace for the Middle East, and a hope of peace for the Muslim world. It is also a message of peace for the whole world,” he commented.
While appreciating the Pakistan-China fraternal ties, the prime minister also thanked US President Donald Trump for his timely and effective role in securing a ceasefire between Pakistan and India last year, and added the the Pak-US ties were on an upward trajectory.
The prime minister advised the youth to learn modern sciences including information technology and artificial intelligence, assuring that the government would extend all possible resources at their disposal.
The prime minister urged the countrymen to make a pledge for replicating the unity shown during the Marka-e-Haq to play an effective for national progress and prosperity.
“Today the need is that we forget mutual differences, bury hatreds and revive love. Pakistan belongs to all; we are all its heirs and also responsible. Difference of opinion is a fundamental right, but if difference is turned into enmity, national strength turns into weakness,” he remarked.
Taking the podium, President Zardari said that the nation and its armed forces, under Field Marshal Munir’s dynamic leadership, gave a befitting answer to India during the war last year.
“This is in faith to remember what happened, in how many days it happened, where it happened, and this will go down in history for everyone to remember, whether today or the day after,” he said.
He noted that Pakistan’s military response to Indian aggression demonstrated that “we are not a small country for you to play with”.
“We are there as partners to the world, in the family of countries,” President Zardari added. “And I think, today, even they understand that Pakistan is a national partner.”
He added that the monument reflects the unity of the nation, the strength of the armed forces and the sacrifices given. The president recalled that his own father was called upon by Quaid-i-Azam to fight in the 1948 Kashmir War.
“Most of Sindh, KP, other places, anybody who could carry an arm were there, and they fought against the Indian Army,” he stated. “By the grace of God, we got our Durand Line, our border line, but still so, a lot needs to be done by us, the people and the public and definitely, the coming generation of Pakistan.”
President Zardari noted that the premier, the CDF, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi were playing a “most commendable and praiseworthy” role.
“We’ve been successful till now. Life comes and goes we’ve seen tragedies, we’ve seen successes [and] successfully managed to guide our system through,” he added. “I’m not saying there would not be weaknesses; there always are; but there is no nation in the world that can claim they have no weaknesses.”
Prior to the speeches by the country’s leadership, visuals broadcast on television showed a large contingent of personnel from the military, paramilitary forces and police presenting a guard of honour, accompanied by a military band.
