Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on Monday asserted that the Pakistan Army was a “shield” for the nation that has helped push back against the attacks and covert tactics of its enemies, as well as helping the country persevere.
Addressing a ceremony at the General Headquarters on the occasion of Defence Day, the army chief said: “We have no doubt that the relationship between Pakistan Army and the nation is the strong shield that has always defeated the enemy’s plots and black-handed tactics against Pakistan and this unity has always made us persevere.”
The army chief also said that the armed forces were keeping a keen eye on developments in Afghanistan, where he said the situation provided an opportunity to establish peace and stability but at the same time it could also prove to be an indication of further difficulties and threats.
“We are desirous of the protection and progress of our Afghan neighbours and expect that the big powers of the region and the world, including the UN, will play a positive role for establishing peace in Afghanistan,” he emphasised.
Moreover, he stated that the army was dependent on the public’s support in order to achieve success, or it may be like a “wall of sand” as it had been in Pakistan’s neighbouring country.
“This is why the army’s success is dependent to a large extent on the people’s support,” he added.
On the occasion, the COAS highlighted the use of “non-traditional means” of attack by the enemies of the country, including propaganda and modern technology to spread misinformation and weaken the society’s ideological boundaries.
“It is a moment of reflection for all of us that some people are being used by anti-state elements. This is called hybrid or fifth-generation war [in common language]. Its purpose is to make Pakistan’s roots hollow and damage the country’s unity. InshAllah, we will never let these negative objectives succeed.”
In such a “difficult and complex” situation, he said, there was a need to further strengthen the relationship of mutual trust, love and fraternity between the Pakistan armed forces and the nation.
Gen Bajwa stressed that everyone should be aware of the reality that “there is no more room for any kind of extremism or violence on this land,” and that no individual or group aside from the armed forces and law-enforcement agencies would be allowed to display weapons or use them.
Moreover, “no individual or group will be allowed to blackmail the state on the basis of area, ethnicity, ideology or religion,” he said.
However, he said that they were ready to deal with all internal and external threats, adding “if any enemy wants to fight us, it will find us ready at every moment and on every front”.
The army chief called upon the nation to work to make Pakistan “progressive, peaceful and a modern Islamic and welfare state”.
“Pakistan’s strength and preservation are in democracy. To make it more stable, we will have to follow the principles of following the Constitution, justice, tolerance and equality,” he said, adding that “negative attitudes like criticism for the sake of criticism, hatred and intolerance” should be discouraged.
“If Pakistan has to progress, we will have to bury our ego and self-interest. […] And according to [former] US president John F. Kennedy, ‘Do not ask what the country can do for you, ask what you can do for the country.'”
He also stressed the need to focus on the areas of education, health, infrastructure development, population control and climate change.
President Arif Alvi, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Nadeem Raza, federal ministers, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and other senior civil and military officials are in attendance.
In his address, President Alvi said that Pakistan completely rejected the illegal occupation of Kashmir by India including all of its illegal steps, particularly, the measure of August 5, 2019 as it was blatant violation of the United Nations resolutions on the Kashmir issue.
He said, “India should know that the desire for freedom cannot be suppressed for long with use of force and black laws.”
“I want to make it clear that secret of this region’s progress and growth is linked to the just resolution of the Kashmir issue.”
The president said that September 6 was not only a day in our national history because it was symbolic of our national unity, courage and sacrifice.
The day reminded as to how 56 years back, the whole nation stood as a fortified wall against an undeclared war and the nefarious designs of the enemy, he added.
“In this struggle, not only we decimated the arrogance of power of the enemy but gave a message to the whole world that as a nation we not only love our freedom but we do not hesitate to give any kind of sacrifice for our motherland.”
President Alvi said, “From our first breath of freedom to our coming generations, every child of Pakistan will be ready to lay down their lives for freedom.”
Another lesson which our enemy learnt from the war of 1965 was that in a challenging time, the whole Pakistani nation and the Pakistani armed force had an unremitting and exemplary relationship, he continued.
“Whether the war is of 17 days or 70 years, conventional or non conventional, our enemy cannot weaken our traditions and resolve for sacrifice.”
He said that the jawans of army, navy and air force had always defended the freedom and security of Pakistan with their blood.
“Their sacrifices of lives not only protected future of our coming generations but made the nation proud for all times to come.”
While remembering the unforgettable sacrifices of the armed forces, the President said, “We remember the day of September 6 with a new determination and we from the core of our heart pay tribute to the great sons of the soul and families for their strength of feelings of patriotism for the country. “No doubt martyrs are our pride and our crown.”
‘INDIA WILL HAVE TO GIVE KASHMIR ITS RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION’:
India will have to give the people of occupied Kashmir the free exercise of the right to self-determination, embodied in a dozen outstanding United Nations Security Council resolutions, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday.
“On our part, we will continue to expose the real face of a radicalised India”, he said in his message on the occasion of Defence Day.
The nation marked Defense and Martyrs Day to pay tributes to the soldiers who lost their lives for the defence of the country in its second war imposed on it by its archrival India.
The fighting between the two neighbours took place between August and September before ending on September 22 with an UN-sponsored ceasefire.
The day dawned with a 31-gun salute in Islamabad and a 21-gun salute in all four provincial capitals, Radio Pakistan said.
Special prayers and recitation of the Holy Quran were also held in mosques across the country for the martyrs, who sacrificed their lives in the war against terrorism.
The prime minister said due to the proactive diplomacy of his government, the international community was now convinced that the persecution of minorities across India and the atrocities unleashed on the people of Kashmir must end forthwith.
“The saner international elements do recognise our role for peace,” he said.
He, however, reiterated that “our desire for peace must not be misconstrued as weakness rather it must be reciprocated for sake of economic wellbeing and public’s prosperity in the entire region”.
Imran observed nations come out stronger and harder in the face of challenges. “Pakistan and its people stood out too […] strong and resolute when the enemy in the 1965 War challenged our existence.”
He recalled that when India on September 6, 56 years ago, declared a war against Pakistan, the whole nation came out in support of its defenders — the military — and many started a march towards the border to fight the enemy with bare hands.
“Such a display of national unity galvanised the armed forces in their fearless fight against the enemy, an act which has no parallel in history.”
“The prime minister said the gallant soldiers and officers, pilots and sailors proved to the world that they were ever ready to defend every inch of the homeland at all costs.”
“They fought bravely, without caring for their own lives, and defended the frontiers by offering supreme sacrifice,” he said.
“This magnificent day, September 6, comes every year to allow us to pay tributes in particular to our heroes, the ghazis and martyred, and the members of the gallant armed forces overall, who have always been nation’s hope and pride.”
“We salute the valiant sons of soil for laying down their precious lives in defence of their country. We pay homage to the families of Shuhada for sacrificing their loved ones in the defence of the motherland,” Imran said.
“As we remember this day, the enemy has not accepted [our] peaceful coexistence since the creation of Pakistan — be it 1948, 1965, 1971 wars — the two decades-long war against terror, creating disturbances and sponsoring terrorism inside Pakistan or new waves of propaganda through cyber warfare and spyware.”
He pointed out that unfortunately, in the past, India, using Afghanistan’s soil, consistently perpetrated terrorism against Pakistan to create unrest.
“On this day, we not only condemn those involved in such heinous acts [of militancy] but also pay special tributes to our valiant military who have rendered invaluable sacrifices for our motherland”, he said. “The world must hold India accountable for its rogue behaviour.”
“We commend the proactive and timely response of our security forces […] India today stands exposed before the world for its bid to hamper peace in the region, especially inside Pakistan.”
“My message on this day to the valiant armed forces is that: together we have come a long way in the struggle to make Pakistan’s defence strong and impregnable”, he added.
The prime minister said the resilient nation and battle-hardened troops have time and again proved they are capable of defending the country and ready to meet any eventuality.
“Let us always enliven the flame of September in our hearts and minds, which is enough to stand tall and triumphant in face of challenges in our way,” he added.
“Let us pay homage to our martyrs and ghazis and pledge anew to defend Pakistan, safeguard its security and sovereignty at all costs. Pakistan Armed Forces Zindabad. Pakistan Paindabad”, the Prime Minister maintained.
