Defense day being celebrated with enthusiasm across country today

Karachi: Defense and Martyrs Day is being celebrated across the country today with great enthusiasm to salute the martyrs and veterans who sacrificed their lives for the defense of the dear motherland.

On the occasion of Defense Day, the day began with a cannon salute and prayers in mosques.

At present, the changing of guards ceremony is going on at Mazar-e-Quaid.

The day reminds us of the war of September 6, 1965, when the cowardly enemy crossed the international border and attacked Pakistan in the dark of night, but the Pakistan Army foiled its nefarious intentions.

The main ceremony of Defense and Martyrs Day will be held at GHQ tonight at 8:00pm in which Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be the chief guest, Army Chief General Asim Munir, top civil and military leadership will also participate.

During the main ceremony, the Prime Minister and Army Chief will place flowers on the Martyrs' Memorial, they will also address the ceremony.

In his special message regarding September 6, President Asif Ali Zardari said that this day reminds us of the unshakable national commitment to the defense of national sovereignty.

He stated that the armed forces are always ready to deal with the challenges facing national sovereignty, and national integrity. The lasting peace in the region is possible only by solving the plight of the Kashmiri people.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in his message that the great efforts of the armed forces defeated the attacking enemy on September 6, 1965. The non-resolution of the Kashmir issue is the biggest obstacle in the way of peace and development in the region.

He stated that the partition of Kashmir is an incomplete agenda of the subcontinent which should be resolved according to the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

On the occasion of the 59th Defense and Martyrs' Day, the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), the Chiefs of Services and the Armed Forces of Pakistan's message said, “Today, we proudly remember the victorious legacy of the 1965 war, the nation's indomitable determination and an example of unwavering passion”.

According to Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR), 59 years ago, Pakistan forces decisively thwarted the nefarious intentions of the enemy, achieving a victory that will forever be written in history.

The ISPR said that the 1965 war was a beacon of hope, which exemplified the nation's resilience and determination in times of adversity.