“When the nation is one, no force on earth can shake its foundations,” says Dar.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Photo: X/ Archive
Deputy Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday that the country’s response during last year’s conflict with India was “measured, responsible and precise”, as he marked the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq.
The term “Marka-e-Haq” refers to the 2025 conflict with India, which began with the Pahalgam attack on April 22 and concluded with a ceasefire on May 10 following Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.
In a message to the nation issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Day
He paid tribute to the armed forces and citizens of Pakistan and said: “When the nation stands united, no force on earth can shake its foundations.”
🔊 Message to the Nation by Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, on the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/XhPsRqoWS8
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) May 7, 2026
Referring to last year’s military tensions, Dar said Pakistan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, acted “with calm, resolve and moral clarity.” “Our response was measured, responsible and precise; guided not by emotion, but by principle,” he said.
Dar said Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos was “more than a military success”, adding that Pakistan exercised its “inherent right of self-defence under the UN Charter”.
He praised the role of Pakistan’s armed forces leadership, including Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu and Admiral Naveed Ashraf, stating that the Pakistan Air Force had achieved “remarkable operational successes”.
Read: Pakistan earns global trust and respect: PM
According to Dar, these included “the downing of multiple Indian fighter jets and the neutralization of key military targets.” The Foreign Minister also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach during the crisis, saying the Foreign Ministry had worked to present Pakistan’s position “on bilateral and global platforms”.
“The events of the past year also remind us that lasting peace in South Asia cannot be achieved without addressing the core issues, the most important of which is the just resolution of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to “regional peace and stability” through dialogue and diplomacy, but warned that “any threat to our homeland will be met with national unity, unwavering determination and strength by all available means.”
Calling on Pakistanis to remain united, he said the anniversary “is not just about remembering the past; it is about shaping the future.” “May this day renew our collective commitment: to stand united; to reject division; to work tirelessly for a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan,” he added.
Pahalgam and Marka-e-Haq attack
On April 22, 2025, escalation between Pakistan and India began when an attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. India immediately blamed Pakistan for the incident. However, Pakistan categorically rejected India’s blame.
Read more: Pakistan’s efforts keep ceasefire alive
In response, India took a series of hostile actions the next day on April 23, 2025, including suspending the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), canceling visas for Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing, ordering the closure of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, and reducing diplomatic staff in each country’s embassies.
Tensions escalated further in the early hours of May 7, 2025, when missile strikes hit six cities in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), destroying a mosque and killing dozens of civilians, including women, children and the elderly.
In a swift military response, Pakistan’s armed forces shot down Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale jets. The standoff escalated again in the early hours of May 10, 2025, when India attacked several Pakistani air bases with missile strikes. In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, which damaged Indian military installations, including missile storage sites, air bases and other strategic targets.
On May 10, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached after intense overnight diplomatic efforts. Minutes later, the agreement was confirmed separately by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and India’s Foreign Minister.
