The term Defence Day Celebrations is synonymous to
the resolve of Pakistani Nation to defend the territorial integrity of
its motherland from external and internal aggression while preserving
the Ideology of Pakistan. Commonly celebrated on 6th September to
commemorate the great sacrifices rendered by Pakistan Armed Forces
against the Indian display of its military might, the Defence Day
actually denotes each and every occasion when Pakistani Armed Forces
supported by all segments of the society defeated both covert and overt
attempts by our adversary to inflict damage to the core interests of
Pakistan. Since the creation of Pakistan, India has always been
conspiring to weaken the newly born state by employing all available
means at its disposal. The first act of aggression committed by India
was to invade Muslim majority State of Jammu & Kashmir which remains
the bone of contention between the two arch rivals in South Asia till
to date. Today's Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are the
living legends of the bravery and resolve of the people of the newly
founded nation. United uprising and response generated by all segments
of Pakistani society against this act of external aggression was the
first display of the "Defence Day". Baffled by the spirit of the
Pakistani nation to not only defend its territorial integrity but the
ability to regain Indian Occupied Kashmir, India took shelter of the
United Nations.
Misconstrued by its military might
India once again ventured to challenge the integrity of Pakistani
Nation by attacking West Pakistan in 1965. Indian Generals had
fantasised to swiftly brush aside the comparatively small and ill
equipped Pakistan Army and have dinner at Lahore Gymkhana. To their
surprise entire Pakistani nation rose against this act of external
aggression and fought side by side its Armed Forces to defend each and
every inch of its motherland. The Indian Strategists had wrongly
appreciated the Centre of Gravity of Pakistan as lying only in its Armed
Forces whereas it actually lied in the unanimous support of entire
Pakistani Nation for its Armed Forces. Ability to get united against any
external threat is the hallmark of Pakistani Nation which is
acknowledged by all and sundry. From the great sacrifices of Major Aziz
Bhatti and Lance Naik Muhammad Hussain at the front line to the morale
boosting ever green melodious songs of Noor Jehan to the spirit of
Cities of Sialkot and Sargodha all contributed to defeat the nefarious
designs of our enemy; this is the true spirit of the celebrations of
Defence Day.
In 1965, Indian planners had thought that by
capturing vital spaces in West Pakistan they would be able to isolate
East Pakistan. Having been thoroughly defeated in the West India shifted
its focus to East and ultimately succeeded in dismembering Pakistan in
1971 due to short sighted approach of the then Political and military
leadership. On the Western front Indian efforts to capture sensitive
spaces were foiled by brave sons of the soil like Major Shabbir Sharif.
Though enemy was able to cause severe damage to Pakistan by cutting off
one of its arm, India could not succeed in lowering the spirit of the
Pakistani Nation as rest of Pakistan stood firm on its stance on vital
Kashmir issue.
Russian invasion of Afghanistan in
late Seventies and its desire to reach to the warm waters forced
Pakistan to become a frontline state. Duly funded by US led allies
Afghanistan attracted Jehadies from across the Globe through Pakistan.
Huge influx of Afghan refugees brought along Kalashnikov and drug
culture and Pakistani society got introduced to bomb blasts and
sectarian violence. Taking advantage of the prevailing environment
notorious intelligence agency of India, RAW supported proxies in
Balochistan and the then NWFP and carried out sabotage activities in
Pakistan. The resilient Pakistani society stood firm in response to
testing time. Remembering the sacrifices of unsung heroes who laid their
lives for the cause of Pakistan is essential part of Defence Day
Celebrations.
Indian enmity to Pakistan is
perennial as its policy makers are always on the look out to cause
damage to our national interests and never miss a chance to embarrass
Pakistan. Indian occupation of un- demarcated Siachen Glacier in 1984
was also continuation of same design which generated a coordinated
response by Army and the local populace to check its further ingress and
ultimate goal of severing our road link with China. Pakistan is
fighting a war in the highest battle field of the world for last 31
years. Sacrifices of great sons of the soil like Captain karnal Sher
Khan and Havildar Lalak Jan are testimony to the strong will of our
nation to defend every inch of the sacred motherland. Shahadat of 140
soldiers and civilians in Gyari in 2012 and Pakistan Army's
determination to recover each and every dead body is the true reflection
of the strength of our national character; commemorating Shauhada of
Gyari by the people of Pakistan is the true reflection of the spirit of
Defence Day Celebrations.
Following the overt
nuclearization of South Asia, India unveiled its Cold Start Doctrine to
keep space for limited conventional war which failed to accrue the
desired results during 2001-2002 stand off between the two belligerents.
In the aftermath of Mumbai attacks, India threatened to resort to Hot
Pursuit Operations and Surgical strikes to coerce Pakistan to regress on
its Kashmir Policy. On ground India resorted to Pro Active Strategy in
an effort to impose a swift, short duration war remaining below the
perceived nuclear threshold of Pakistan to embarrass Pakistan Army.
Pakistan checkmated with a superior strategy and denied victory to the
enemy as India had to pull back its forces without achieving its
military aim. Through a series of War Games Pakistan evolved and matured
New Concept of War Fighting to counter Indian Pro Active Strategy
further narrowing the space for Limited War. Moreover, Pakistan has been
able to develop long range missiles capable of engaging every corner of
India which has deterred India to wage war. Acquisition of second
strike capability by Pakistan has established credible nuclear
deterrence and is major factor in maintaining peace in the region.
Defeating Indian design to impose war on Pakistan is a victory
attributable to superior Pakistani art of war necessitating expression
of joy at national level as part of Defence Day Celebrations.
India
is always seeking an excuse to violate the cease fire agreement to keep
LOC hot / volatile with a view to maintaining large number of regular /
para military forces in Kashmir Valley to quell the indigenous uprising
in Indian Occupied Kashmir. Brutalities of Indian Armed Forces have not
been able to suppress pro Pakistan sentiments of Muslim and Sikh
population of Indian Occupied Kashmir and the Valley keeps on echoing
with the slogans like " Kashmir Baney Ga Pakistan". Pakistan Army
deployed along LOC and Working Boundary is steadfast to deter any
aggression by the India Armed Forces. Remaining within the limited
fiscal space Pakistan Army is well configured to face much superior
adversary on our Eastern Borders. Entire Pakistani nation is standing
shoulder to shoulder with its Army to defend our sacred motherland; this
feeling of national solidarity symbolises true spirit of Defence Day
Celebrations.
With credible nuclear deterrence in
place and evolution of New Concept of War Fighting by Pakistan in
response to Indian Pro Active Strategy space for limited war between the
two nuclear powers in South Asia has further shrunk. The events of 9/11
totally altered the nature and character of war. US invasion of
Afghanistan and Iraq greatly impacted the Muslim societies and
radicalised a section of its population. NATO operations in Afghanistan
forced various Taliban factions to seek refuge across the porous Durand
Line and established safe havens in the semi autonomous Federally
Administered Tribal Areas. Compelled by the prevailing environment
Pakistan was left with no choice but to once again become the frontline
state against the Global War on Terror. This necessitated Pakistan Army
to shift its orientation from conventional warfare to Low Intensity
Conflict and redeployment of its forces from Eastern Borders to the
Western Borders creating two front war scenario.
Having
failed to create space for conventional war, India took to 4th/ 5th
Generation Warfare. RAW in collaboration with other hostile
intelligence agencies created, funded and trained Tehreek-e-Taliban
Pakistan (TTP). Terrorist activities by Taliban against NATO forces
inside Afghanistan afforded a golden opportunity to India to malign
Pakistan of harbouring and abetting terrorism in the region and beyond
creating doubts among the international community about the safety and
security of its Strategic Assets. Pro India Northern Alliance Afghan
government facilitated establishment of Indian Consulates along
Pakistan- Afghan border to control their proxies in FATA and
Baluchistan. Pakistan has provided proofs of Indian involvement in
sectarian violence, supporting terrorism and anti state elements to
Pakistan to Indian government at various occasions.
With
the planning and active support of RAW, TTP gradually took control of
FATA and SWAT area projecting threat to Islamabad. Pakistan Army quickly
adopted to the new form of warfare and responded with Sub Conventional
Warfare Doctrine. Operation Rah-e-Raast was launched to clear Swat
Valley of the miscreants. To minimise the chances of collateral damage
civilian population was temporarily displaced to safe locations in
settled areas. Professional approach adopted by Pakistan Army to
systematically clear the Valley is now taught as case study in the
leading Armies of the world including US. Officers led their soldiers
from the front leaving behind fairy tale stories of valour and
sacrifice for the defence of the sacred motherland from the internal
threat. Pakistan Army is proud of highest officers to soldiers casualty
ratio in the world during War on Terror including Lieutenant General, to
number of Major Generals to the Second Lieutenants. The sacrifices of
Shuahda will be written in golden words in the history of Pakistan.
Defence Day celebrations are organised to pay tributes to the Heroes of
Pakistan.
Operation Al- Mizaan was launched to
evict the terrorists from South Waziristan, Khyber, Bajaur and other
agencies. Compared to conventional war, 4th/ 5th generation warfare is a
complex phenomenon and a long drawn war spread over decades. Over the
years Pakistan Army cleared these areas less North Waziristan Agency
number of times but due to lack of capacity of other LAEs and the civil
government it could not retain control of these areas. In the meanwhile
our enemy continued to play havoc through bomb blasts, suicide bombing
and target killings. Members of LEAs and civilian who became victim to
these terrorist activities exceed the staggering figure of 50000.
Defence Day celebrations are in the memory of such like Shuahda.
Our
strategic installations like GHQ, NHQ, ISI, IB, Kamra Air Base, Naval
Base in Karachi, Quetta Air Base, Masajid, Imambargahs and minorities
were targeted by the terrorists to weaken our resolve to fight both
conventional and war on terror but they never knew that they were
pitched against the best Armed Forces of the world which were ever ready
to pay highest level of sacrifices to safeguard the territorial and
ideological boundaries of the country. All those contributed to ensure
safety and security of our strategic installations will be remembered
during Defence Day Celebrations.
India has long
been involved in destabilising Baluchistan by supporting anti state
elements. With the formal launching of CPEC, India has intensified its
efforts to pronounce law and order situation in Baluchistan; burning of
Ziarat Residency and mass sectarian and ethnic killings in the past
notwithstanding, Mastung incident and recent target killings of Hazara
minority are cases in point. Pakistan is determined to execute CPEP at
all cost. Political and military leadership of Pakistan are at one page
to creat environment suitable for development of strategic Gwadar Port
and requisite communication infrastructure to move the project as per
conceived timelines. Special and dedicated force is being raised to
ensure security of CPEC projects being executed in Baluchistan.
Sacrifices of LEAs and people of Baluchistan rendered for national
integration and prosperity of Pakistan will be remembered as part of
Defence Day Celebrations.
Following the successful
stealth operation Neptune Spear by US Navy Seals in Abbottabad to
eliminate OBL, India got a golden chance to malign Pakistan of playing
double game with the US led West in the War On Terror. As the US
prepared to drawdown from Afghanistan for impending long term
commitment in Asia-Pacific, India invested heavily in Afghanistan to
get a greater share of the pie in the post drawdown scenario.
Simultaneously, India intensified its terrorist activities across the
width and breadth of Pakistan to portray it a weak state struggling
against prevailing law and order situation with a view to denying her
any role in Afghanistan. There was also growing pressure from the world
community on Pakistan to launch operation in North Waziristan Agency
against Haqqani Group believed to be epic centre abetting terrorism
across the Durand Line. With the change in Political and Military
hierarchy in Pakistan the pressure even grew further. In this backdrop,
military leadership showed the will and capacity of Pakistan Army to
launch a comprehensive operation throughout the country including NWA to
eradicate the menace of terrorism once for all; Political leadership
was quick in getting go ahead from all the political stakeholders.
Being
the staunch believer of the fact that war against terrorism was a must
for the survival of Pakistan, General Raheel Sharif took bold decision
and Operation Zarb-e-Azb was finally launched on 16 June 2014. Taking
advantage of experience gained in Operation Rah-e-Rast in Swat Pakistan
Army persuaded civilian population in North Waziristan to evacuate the
area to minimise the chances of collateral damage. Concurrently,
operation was also launched in Khyber Agency to deny terrorists' liberty
of action/ manoeuvring space inside FATA. Speed of the operation took
the terrorists and their planners by surprise. RAW and other hostile
agencies had no choice but to shift their focus to settled areas and
search for softer targets.
16 December 2014 was
deliberately chosen by RAW to remind the Pakistani Nation of 1971
debacle by targeting Army Public School in Peshawar and killing 145
innocent students, teachers and school staff. Nation will always
remember these heroes as an essential part of our Defence Day
Celebrations. This massacre united the whole nation to mount a
comprehensive response to cut the roots of terrorism from the sacred
land leading to unanimous adoption of Protection of Pakistan bill by the
constituent assembly. Frustrated by the shrinking space RAW sponsored
terrorists continued to engage softer targets like Yohana Abad, Wahga
Border suicidal attack, Safoora Chaurangi Incident, Mastung Incident and
target killing of minority Hazaras in Quetta to name a recent few to
weaken the resolve of Pakistan Army, Law Enforcement Agencies and above
all people of Pakistan against the war on terror.
In
a short span of one year Operation Zarb-e-Azb has been able to achieve
tremendous success. Over 90 % of NWA area has been cleared of the
miscreants at the cost of great sacrifices of brave officers and
soldiers of Pakistan Army. Maintaining the tradition of their
predecessors officers have once again led the operation from the front.
Similarly, Operation Khyber-2 has been successfully concluded.
Temporarily displaced persons are on their way back home. Over 9000
intelligence based operations have also been conducted in urban areas of
Pakistan to dismantle the logistical support to the terrorists. Since
the nature of war has changed, Sacrifices rendered by the valiant sons
of soil against the war on terror need to be recognised with the highest
possible worldly rewards like NH and SJ etcetera. Pakistan Army has
very rightly dedicated 30 April as Yaum-e-Shuhada to commemorate the
great sacrifices of all ranks with a clear message to our enemies that
we will never forget our sons and as an institution we will keep on
looking after their families.
Karachi is the
commercial hub of Pakistan and hostile intelligence agencies are always
endeavouring to creat law and order situation to discourage investment.
Armed wings of political parties and terrorists are engaged in target
killings, abduction for ransom, extortion of money, bribery, land
grabbing and drug trafficking. Recent BBC report accusing MQM of their
involvement in anti state activities in collaboration with RAW has
raised alarm bells for the LEAs. Despite resistance by the political
parties and threatening statements by their leadership operation by
Pakistan Rangers in Karachi is progressing steadily as per plan and
achieving its set objectives. The day is not far when the sacrifices of
LEAs will bear fruit and Karachi will regain its title of City of
Lights.
Hostile intelligence agencies have joined
hands to create hurdles in the actualisation of CPEC. India has openly
opposed the project as a portion of road, rail and pipeline will pass
through disputed Gilgit-Baltistan area. India's proxies in Baluchistan
are already quite active to disrupt the project but the COAS during his
recent visit to Quetta and Panjgur has clearly stated that CPEC will be
completed at all cost. A special security apparatus is being put in
place to provide protection to Chinese working on various projects in
Pakistan.
The message to India is loud and clear
that Pakistan wants to live in peace but with honour and dignity. We
have a credible nuclear deterrence with second strike capability, we are
ready to fight conventional war and we are ready to fight 5th
generation war. Defence Day Celebrations are a reminder to us that India
has never accepted the creation of Pakistan, Indian Prime Minister has
openly confessed their involvement in disintegration of Pakistan, their
ministers are making statements to support anti state elements and
terrorists in Pakistan and threatening to go for hot pursuit operations.
BBC is reporting RAW training and funding MQM. While India is keeping
LOC and Working Boundary hot to keep the pressure on Pakistan the choice
is with India; 6th September 2015 is Golden Jubilee of our Defence
Day Celebrations.
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