Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has warned that no one will be allowed to blackmail the state on regional and linguistic basis.
“Pakistan’s armed forces will not spare any sacrifice for the security and safety of the country,” the army chief said while addressing a ceremony in connection with the 55th Defence and Martyrs’ Day held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Monday.
President Dr Arif Alvi, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, chiefs of the three armed forces and members of the cabinet attended the ceremony.
The families of the martyrs, ghazis, serving and retired military officials and the youth attended the event.
It was on this day in 1965 that the Indian forces crossed the international border in the darkness of the night but the nation foiled the nefarious designs of the enemy. This year’s Defence and Martyrs’ Day theme was ‘Our Martyrs Our Pride, Salute to All the Relatives Belonging to Ghazis and Shaheeds’.
The COAS said the use of force was the sole prerogative of the state. “No one will be allowed to blackmail the state on regional or linguistic grounds. We have to deal with the elements that cause internal disturbances.
“The enemy’s negative intentions will never succeed. Pakistan stands by Afghanistan in this difficult time and is ready for any kind of cooperation from the world for peace in the war-torn country as the Afghan people have faced many difficulties during the war.
“After the withdrawal of foreign troops, there is an opportunity for peace in Afghanistan.”
General Bajwa said that defence of the motherland is a sacred duty which is “dearer to us than life itself”.
“We have proved that Pakistan Army knows how to defend homeland,” he added.
“We are ready to pay any price for the defence of the homeland. The enemy will find us ready at every moment and on every front.”
The COAS said that the present era is of fifth generation war. “We will not spare any sacrifice for the security and safety of Pakistan and if the enemy wants to test us, he will find us ready at every moment and on every front.”
He vowed not to allow the enemy’s intentions to succeed, telling the participants that the sacrifices of their loved ones would “never be in vain”.
The army chief said that Kashmir is a key issue between Pakistan and India, vowing to continue providing diplomatic, moral and political support to Kashmir.
He rejected India’s August 5 move of revoking the disputed region’s autonomy and paid tribute to veteran Kashmiri leader late Syed Ali Geelani for his long struggle for independence from India.
General Bajwa said that Pakistan’s survival is in democracy. “We all abide by the Constitution.”
He urged to promote tolerance to make Pakistan a moderate and modern Islamic welfare state.
“Whether it is a conventional or unconventional war, Pakistan Army has faced every challenge, but without public support, any army is a wall of sand.”
PRESIDENT ARIF ALVI: Addressing the ceremony, President Arif Alvi said 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 a blatant violation of the United Nations resolutions.
“India should know that the desire for freedom cannot be suppressed for long by use of force and black laws,” said President Alvi.
“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.”
“September 6 reminds us as how 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 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.”
The president said “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 the jawans of army, navy and air force had always defended the freedom and security of Pakistan with their blood.
“Their sacrifices not only protected the future of our coming generations but made the nation proud.”
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 soil and families for their strength of feelings of patriotism for the country. No doubt martyrs are our pride.”
