Message to the Nation by Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on First Anniversary of Marka-e-Haq
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
My Dear fellow Pakistanis,
Today, we mark one year since Marka-e-Haq, a defining moment in our national journey. It is not just a date on the calendar; it is a story of courage, unity, and unwavering resolve. A story where every soldier stood firm, and every citizen stood behind them.
On this day, I salute the bravery of our armed forces, our sons and daughters, who rose with discipline and determination to defend our homeland.
I also salute the people of Pakistan, whose unity became our greatest strength. Because when the nation stands as one, no force on earth can shake its foundations.
Last year, when aggression was imposed upon us, Pakistan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif, acted with calm resolve and moral clarity. Our response was measured, responsible, and precise; guided not by emotion, but by principle.
Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos was more than a military success. Acting in accordance with the UN Charter, Pakistan exercised its inherent right of self-defence under the then General Asim Munir, now Field Marshal and Chief of Defence Forces, delivering a determined, decisive, and proportionate response directed solely at military installations of the aggressor.
Under the command of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, the Pakistan Air Force achieved notable operational successes, including the downing of multiple Indian fighter jets and the neutralisation of key military targets — these facts remain well documented and beyond any dispute. Simultaneously, the Pakistan Navy, led by Admiral Naveed Ashraf, maintained full readiness to counter any aggression in the maritime domain.
Through this calibrated and resolute response, Pakistan sent an unambiguous message: Pakistan stands for peace, but it will never compromise on its dignity, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence.
During this critical period, I, along with my colleagues in the Foreign Office, undertook an active diplomatic outreach, effectively presenting Pakistan’s position on bilateral and global platforms; reinforcing international understanding of Pakistan’s lawful and restrained response.
The events of last year also remind us that lasting peace in South Asia cannot be achieved without addressing the core issues — foremost among them, the just resolution of Jammu and Kashmir, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of its people.
Pakistan remains committed to regional peace and stability. We believe in dialogue, in diplomacy, and in resolving disputes through justice and mutual respect. At the same time, we reaffirm that any threat to our homeland will be met with national unity, unshakeable resolve, and strength through all means available.
The anniversary of Marka-e-Haq is not only about remembering the past; it is about shaping the future—a future where Pakistan is strong not just in defence, but also in economy, education, and all social sectors; a future where our youth lead with confidence, and our nation rises with dignity among the comity of nations.
Let this day renew our collective pledge: to stand united; to reject division; to work tirelessly for a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan — because the spirit of Marka-e-Haq lives not just in our history, but also in our hearts – now and forever Inshallah.
Pakistan Zindabad.
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
