ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Imran Khan has reiterated that our desire for peace must not be misconstrued as weakness rather it must be reciprocated for sake of economic wellbeing and peoples’ prosperity in the entire region.
In his message on Defence and Martyrs Day, the prime minister said that living nations come out stronger and harder in the face of challenges, and the Pakistani nation stood out too, strong and resolute when the enemy in the 1965 War challenged our existence.
Imran Khan said when India on September 6 initiated an undeclared war against Pakistan, the whole nation came out to the support of its defenders; many even started marching towards the border with bare hands.
Such a display of national unity galvanized the already spirited armed forces in their fearless fight against the enemy, which has no parallel in history, he said.
The prime minister said that the gallant soldiers and officers, pilots and sailors proved to the world that they are ever ready to defend every inch of the homeland at all costs. They fought bravely and did not care for their own lives and defended the frontiers by offering supreme sacrifice.
The prime minister said that this magnificent day, September 6, comes each year to let us pay rich tributes in particular to our heroes, the Ghazis and Shuhada, and the gallant armed forces overall, who have always been the nation’s hope and pride.
“We salute the valiant sons of soil for laying down their precious lives in defence of their Country,” he said. “We pay homage to the families of Shuhada for sacrificing their loved ones in the defence of the motherland.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan said that as we remember this day, the enemy hasn’t accepted peaceful coexistence since the creation of Pakistan – be it 1948, 1965, 1971 wars, the two-decades-long war against terror, creating disturbances and doing sabotage activities inside Pakistan or new waves of unleashed propaganda through cyber warfare and spy software.
Unfortunately, he added, that in the past, India constantly perpetrated terrorism against Pakistan, using Afghan soil to create unrest in Pakistan.
Imran Khan said that on this day we not only condemn those involved in such heinous acts but also pay special tributes to our valiant armed forces who have rendered invaluable sacrifices for our motherland.
The world must hold India accountable for its rogue behavior, he said.
The prime minister said that we commend the proactive and timely response of our security forces; India today stands exposed before the world community for its bid to hamper peace in the region, especially with reference to Pakistan.
The prime minister said that due to our government’s proactive diplomacy, the international community is now convinced that the persecution of minorities across India and the atrocities unleashed on innocent Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) must end forthwith.
Imran Khan said that India will have to give Kashmiris their due right to self-determination under the UN Security Council resolutions; the sooner the better. He added that on our part, we will continue to expose the real face of radicalized India.
“The saner international elements do recognize our role for peace,” he noted.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said that my message on this day to the valiant armed forces is that together we have come a long way in the struggle for making Pakistan’s defence strong and impregnable.
The prime minister said that our resilient nation and battle-hardened armed forces have time and again proved that we are fully capable of defending the Country and ready to meet any kind of 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,” Imran Khan said.
“Let us pay homage to our Shuhada and Ghazis and pledge anew to defend Pakistan, safeguard its security and sovereignty at all costs. Pakistan Armed Forces Zindabad Pakistan Paindabad.”
