Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Zardari highlighted Pakistan’s growing role in regional security on Sunday as the nation observed its 61st Defence and Martyrs’ Day.
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nation → highlight → Day
The day began with a 31-gun salute in Islamabad and a 21-gun salute in the provincial capitals, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
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day → begin → Pakistan
A change of guards was also held at the Quaid’s mausoleum in Karachi.
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change → hold → Karachi
A contingent of 64 male and eight female cadets from the Pakistan Air Force Academy participated in the guard-changing ceremony with Asghar Khan assuming guard duties.
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Khan → participate → duties
Defence Day is observed every year on September 6 to commemorate the legacy of the 1965 war, which began after India launched an attack across the international border.
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India → observe → border
The war ended with a ceasefire on September 22, and peace between the two countries was negotiated under Soviet auspices in Tashkent on January 10, 1966.
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peace → end → January
During this war, 1617 square miles of territory was occupied by Pakistan as compared to 446 square miles of Pakistan’s open and undefended territory occupied by India.
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miles → occupy → India
The Pakistan Army had captured 20 Indian officers, 19 junior Indian commissioned officers and 569 other ranks.
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Army → capture → officers
PM’s message
PM Shehbaz paid tribute to the martyrs and veterans of the armed forces and their families on behalf of the entire nation in a Defence Day message issued by his office.
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Shehbaz → pay → office
“September 6 is a glorious chapter in our national history, reminding us of the unparalleled resolve, unity and sacrifices demonstrated by our armed forces and the nation in defence of our beloved homeland.
“This day provides us with an opportunity to pay tribute to the martyrs and veterans who made immense sacrifices to safeguard Pakistan’s security, sovereignty and independence.
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who → remind → security
Despite the enemy’s undeclared aggression and numerical superiority on September 6 1965, the professionalism and operational preparedness of Pakistan’s armed forces inflicted a humiliating and resounding defeat upon it on all fronts,” he recalled.
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he → inflict → fronts
The prime minister added, “History bears witness that during the 1965 war, our armed forces displayed exceptional professionalism and courage, while the Pakistani nation demonstrated remarkable unity, resilience and steadfastness.
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nation → add → unity
Together they created a proud and enduring legacy in our national history.
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they → create → history
The prime minister also commended the armed forces’ response to India during last year’s four-day military conflict, Marka-i-Haq.
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minister → commend → conflict
“In line with the glorious tradition of valiance, our armed forces, under the excellent professional strategy of Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu and Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf, delivered a response to our age-old adversary that will be remembered for generations.
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that → deliver → generations
“The entire nation is proud of our brave Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy,” he said.
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he → say → Army
Referring to Bunyanum Marsoos —Pakistan’s military operation in response to India’s attack in the episode — the premier said its success added another “glorious chapter to our military history”.
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success → refer → history
“Our armed forces have once again demonstrated that the spirit and fervour of September 6 remain as strong as ever.”
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spirit → demonstrate → September
He added that the challenges confronting Pakistan today demanded greater national unity and solidarity.
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challenges → add → unity
“Our traditional adversary, along with Fitna-al-Khawarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan, continues to pursue its nefarious designs against Pakistan, but these hostile forces are facing successive and decisive defeats.
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forces → continue → defeats
The sinister designs of hostile forces seeking to destabilise Pakistan through hybrid warfare shall be resolutely defeated,” he said.
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he → seek → warfare
The state uses the term Fitna-al-Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and has designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.
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state → use → Pakistan
Beyond security challenges, PM Shehbaz said the country’s “foremost challenge is to eradicate ignorance, poverty and backwardness and to transform Pakistan in accordance with the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal”.
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challenge → say → Jinnah
“Our true strength lies not only in our defence capabilities but also in a united, peaceful, stable and economically strong nation,” he said, adding that the government would continue to take resolute measures to strengthen Pakistan’s security, sovereignty and defence, while simultaneously advancing economic development, political stability and public welfare.
And beyond its frontiers, Pakistan would continue to play an “active and constructive” role in promoting peace and stability at both regional and global levels, he added.
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he → lie → levels
As a responsible state, Pakistan had emerged as a net security stabiliser, contributing to collective security, peace and stability beyond its borders, he said, adding that the Makkah Defence Alliance was a manifestation of Pakistan’s growing role in regional security and reflected its commitment to collective defence, mutual security and enduring partnerships with brotherly countries.
“Pakistan will continue to fulfil its responsibilities as a dependable partner for peace and security while pursuing cooperation and dialogue as the preferred means of addressing regional challenges,” he said.
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he → emerge → challenges
He then called on the international community to recognise that lasting and genuine peace in South Asia could not be achieved without resolution of the Kashmir issue as per United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.
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peace → call → Kashmir
“Quaid-i-Azam described Kashmir as Pakistan’s jugular vein.
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Azam → describe → vein
India’s reprehensible conduct and continued intransigence on the Kashmir dispute remain major impediments to lasting peace, development and prosperity in the region,” he said.
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he → remain → region
Coming back to September 6, he added, “On this historic day, let us renew our commitment to making Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s principles of faith, unity and discipline an integral part of our national life.
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principles → come → life
Let us work together to build a strong, prosperous and developed Pakistan.
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us → let → Pakistan
“We must always remember that a strong defence provides the foundation for sustainable peace and development.
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defence → remember → peace
The armed forces of Pakistan remain the guarantors of our national security, and the entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with its brave defenders,” he said.
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he → remain → defenders
President Zardari began his message by stating that September 6 held a “memorable place in our national history, reminding us of the great sacrifices made to safeguard our freedom, sovereignty and national security”.
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September → begin → freedom
“Defence and Martyrs’ Day provides us with an opportunity to pay tribute to the immortal sacrifices of the brave sons of the nation who, in 1965, demonstrated unparalleled resolve, courage and devotion in defence of our beloved homeland, defeating the enemy’s nefarious designs on every front.
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who → provide → front
“I, on behalf of the entire nation, salute the martyrs and veterans of Pakistan’s armed forces and their families.
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I → salute → forces
Through their blood and sacrifice, our martyrs wrote timeless stories of courage and patriotism in the annals of our national history.
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martyrs → write → history
Their sacrifices will forever remain a guiding light for generations to come,” he said.
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he → remain → generations
The president said the unity and spirit of faith demonstrated by the armed forces and the Pakistani nation on September 6, 1965 remained a manifestation of the nation’s collective strength.
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unity → say → strength
“This day reminds us that when a nation stands united in defence of its freedom, sovereignty and homeland, no power can defeat its resolve,” he added.
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he → remind → resolve
He, too, recalled Marka-i-Haq, saying that the “spirit of September 6 was once again reflected in the resounding success of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos”.
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spirit → recall → Marsoos
…and 45 more, not listed.
