Today on 6th September, like always before, the armed forces of Pakistan are all set to take the lead role in celebrating 55th Defense Day of Pakistan with traditional zeal and fervor,to commemorate their supreme sacrifices rendered selflessly for making the country’s frontiers invincible.Every year, this historic day comes to remind us that no price is ever too high to safeguard our ideology, liberty, and territorial sovereignty. On this eventful day, we are made to recall the fateful night of 6th September, 1965 when our national security faced its gravest threats and India launched her most aggressive attack on Pakistan. In utter violations of all international norms and conventions, we were dragged into a battle of survival by an enemy much larger in size and numbers. But to the shocking surprise of the enemy, our compatriots did not waver in that grim national trial, our brethren in uniform – soldiers, sailors and airmen – wrote, with their valiant deeds, an inimitable saga of an abiding inspiration. The entire nation is proud of that finest hour marked by the supreme success of its Armed Forces in the 1965 War. We hold in great esteem the unprecedented courage of conviction and rare gallantry of our warriors and stand profoundly indebted to our heroic martyrs for showing unto us the path of national pride and ultimate glory. We, the people of this great country, Pakistan, are honor-bound to follow their illuminating examples and remain ever ready to frustrate the enemy designs with even greater spirit and patriotic passion.
Swayed by numerical strength and superiority in arms and ammunition, the Indian Army Chief, Gen. J. N. Chaudhry, was so over confident of capturing Lahore effortlessly that he wished to have the morning tea at Lahore Gymkhana, by the next dawn. He had reasons to be proud as he was known in India as the “Conqueror of Hyderabad in Deccan”. The Pakistan Army units defending on the ground, supported by the Pakistan Air Force, were able to blunt the Indian offensive and roll it back. On 8th September, India launched its main attack against Sialkot using its armored division and other strike formations. What followed has been registered as the largest tank battle since the Second World War. It was a hard and bitter battle fought over many days and nights, resulting in casualties on both sides. In the end, the Indians were made to lick the dust and its armored division was forced to withdraw, costing them heavy losses in men and material. In the South, Pakistan launched an offensive to push back Indian troops and enter Indian Territory. During the operations, India captured about 400 square miles of Pakistan territory but lost around 1600 square miles of its own to Pakistan. The war ended with the strenuous mediation efforts by the USSR and a peace agreement was eventually signed at Tashkent.
A monumental task lies ahead for both the civilians and military leadership to dedicate all their energies and abilities to further fortify our invincible frontiers. Long live Pakistan!
Licking its wounds of 1965 War, India has never missed any opportunity to harm or hurt Pakistan. From its all-out offensive in East Pakistan back in 1971 to the False-flag Operation in Pulwama in February, 2019, Indians have attempted to avenge on Pakistan, by all means possible. On 9/11, the world changed and it also posed serious challenges for Pakistan as it unconditionally joined the Global War on Terror (GWOT). It was in its own interest as the bane of terror was right at its doorstep and could have had severe repercussions on Pakistan, if it had been left unchecked. The Pakistan Army has borne the brunt of the GWOT and fought the faceless monster, battled against the scourge of suicide bombers, saboteurs, seditionists and terrorists. The miscreants, who had taken advantage of the ongoing war in Afghanistan, were abetted, trained and equipped by the enemies of Pakistan, found it opportune to challenge the writ of the government and threaten the people of Swat, tribal regions and FATA. The armed forces of Pakistan launched various successful military operations to fight terrorism and extremism, which took huge toll of human lives. According to South Asia Terrorism Portal, to date 70,452 Pakistani lives have been lost in terror attacks, out of which 7,802 are security personnel. Thus, with fresh blood of martyrs, the scourge of terrorism has almost been eliminated from Pakistan and peace has finally prevailed.
February 27, 2019 came as another Red-Letter Day for Pakistan and its Armed Forces. India, being ruled by the Butcher of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, attempted to bait Pakistan with False-flag Operations. The February 16, 2019 False-flag Operation at Pulwama claimed lives of 45 Indian soldiers. Using it as a plea and blaming Pakistan for the assault, Modi ordered Indian Air Force fighters to attack a fictitious terror training camp at Balakot, causing no damage apart from a few Pine trees. The next morning, the PAF retaliated, sending its fighter aircraft to deliver weapons in an open area, taking care not to hit military or civilian installations. IAF fighter aircraft gave chase and, in the melee, the PAF shot down Indian aircraft, a MiG-21 while its pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan, was captured alive. This fictitious and failed attack on Pakistan border provided Modi with enough of electioneering slogans to sell to his emotionally charged electorates and he won the elections.
On August 5, after having been re-elected as the Prime Minister, Modi made a strategic blunder by stripping Kashmir of its special status guaranteed by Indian constitution and converting IOK and Ladakh into Union Territories. IOK has been in a state of curfew for over a year now and people are dying of hunger, and there is a lack of medicines and milk for the babies. RSS goons are attacking hapless Kashmiris in their homes, looting, raping and physically assaulting the innocent inhabitants, forcing them to abandon their homes. To add salt to the injury, India is threatening to take back Azad Jammu Kashmir, Gilgit and Baltistan. Modi is also foxing the miscreants in Baluchistan that he will liberate them from Pakistan. The Line of Control is being incessantly shelled and hapless civilians in Azad Kashmir are being targeted on regular intervals.IOK has been reduced to the world’s biggest prison with massive human rights violations. This volatile situation poses serious threats to the regional peace and national security.
Security threats have become more compounded as the enemies of Pakistan are operating under cover, using the tools and tactics of the 5th Generation War and beyond. Reportedly, over 250 websites are being operated in 55 countries including Europe by Indians to build and propagate an anti-Pakistan narrative. Recently, we are witnessing huge venom being vomited out against the security institutions of Pakistan through a well-orchestrated campaign executed by Indians. These challenges press harder for greater national harmony and cohesion. The Italian nationalist leader, Mr.Massimo d’Azeglio had rightly said, “We have made Italy. Now, we must make Italians.” Similarly, we must create unity within our ranks and thus forge a formidable front in order to make Pakistan a stable and self-reliant nation. We truly believe in the words of our great Quaid who remarked, “There is no power on earth that can undo Pakistan.” A monumental task lies ahead for both the civilians and military leadership to dedicate all their energies and abilities to further fortify our invincible frontiers. Long live Pakistan!
The writer is a civil servant by profession, a writer by choice and a motivational speaker by passion!