He says our forces’ response forced India to seek a ceasefire within hours of the skirmish.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the armed forces for their “historic response” to India at Marka-e-Haq as the nation celebrated the first anniversary of the victory on Sunday.
The Prime Minister was addressing a Marka-e-Haq anniversary ceremony at Pakistan Memorial in Islamabad, which was attended by President Asif Ali Zardari, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, federal ministers, foreign dignitaries and family members of martyrs who lost their loved ones in Marka-e-Haq and the war on terror.
Addressing the meeting, the prime minister said India had last year leveled allegations against Pakistan following the “tragic” Pahalgam incident despite Islamabad offering an internationally transparent investigation into the matter.
Read: CDF Munir warns against any future misadventures and says the response would be ‘far-reaching and painful’
However, he said, the “cowardly enemy”, as in the past, imposed an unprovoked war on Pakistan under the cover of darkness, attacking mosques, innocent children and civilians.
“Our brave forces gave a historic response to the enemy’s night attack,” he said.
“When our lion-hearted soldiers entered the battlefield and our Shaheens pounced on the enemy, the cowardly enemy was overwhelmed. Our Fatah missiles destroyed India’s air defense system,” he added.
“There was dominance of our Shaheens everywhere and wreckage of enemy aircraft everywhere,” he said, adding that this forced India to seek a ceasefire within four hours of the skirmish.
Terming it as a victory of Pakistan’s “national honour, principles and self-respect”, the prime minister declared May 10 as “Youm-e-Marka-e-Haq”, which he said would be celebrated every year with patriotism and fervor without a public holiday.
Paying tribute to the martyrs, their families and the nation, Prime Minister Shehbaz praised CDF Munir for “writing new chapters of bravery” during the conflict. “History will always remember the field marshal’s wise and courageous leadership with golden words,” he said.
The prime minister also praised the air chief marshal and the Pakistan Air Force, saying they had trashed the enemy’s claims about their air power.
Read also: President and Prime Minister pay tribute to armed forces on first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq
He also paid tribute to Pakistan’s naval chief and Navy, saying they created such deterrence that the enemy “did not dare to breach the maritime borders”.
Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked brotherly and friendly countries for their unwavering diplomatic support during the conflict, and especially thanked US President Donald Trump for what he described as a “historic role” in saving millions of lives in the region.
“If the flames of war between two nuclear powers had intensified further, the consequences would have been horrific,” he said, adding that President Trump played a decisive role in achieving a ceasefire “without wasting a moment.”
The prime minister also thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other friendly countries for supporting Pakistan’s stand.
In particular, he thanked China, President Xi Jinping, the Chinese leadership and the Chinese nation for providing political, diplomatic and moral support to Pakistan, saying they had fulfilled the “right to an unforgettable friendship.”
Referring to Pakistan’s recent diplomatic efforts, the prime minister said Islamabad was making sincere efforts for peace in Iran.
He added that Islamabad had played an important role in getting both sides to agree to a ceasefire and had also played a key role in bringing them to the negotiating table for the first time since 1979.
He said Pakistan’s efforts for lasting peace in the region and the world continued. “Just now the field marshal was telling me that Iran’s response had been received,” he said, without going into further details.
Raising his voice for the people of Gaza and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the Prime Minister said Pakistan had consistently extended moral, diplomatic and political support to them at all international forums.
Read more: Nation supports its forces on first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq
He said this support would continue until the people of Palestine and the IIOJK could “breathe an atmosphere of freedom.”
Referring to losses in the war against terrorism, the Prime Minister said officers and soldiers of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies continued to sacrifice their lives in counter-terrorism operations. “Fitna al-Khawarij” and “Fitna al-Hindustan” for the defense of the homeland.
