India misjudged Pakistan’s desire for peace, says envoy on Marka-e-Haq anniversary

WEB DESK: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, has asserted that New Delhi “miscalculated” Islamabad’s pursuit of regional stability as a sign of weakness.

Speaking at a commemorative ceremony at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington on Saturday, the envoy marked the first anniversary of the Marka-e-Haq, the 2025 conflict that reshaped regional dynamics.

The event, held to celebrate the conclusion of the conflict and the success of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, was charged with patriotic fervour.

Chants of “Pakistan Zindabad” resonated through the halls as participants paid tribute to the armed forces for acting as an “iron wall” against foreign aggression.

The ceremony featured messages from Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership, including a statement from Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, delivered by Defence Attaché Brigadier Irfan Ali.

A testament to national sovereignty

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Sheikh stated that the events of 2025 proved the “greatness of Pakistan’s geographical importance and national pride.”

He maintained that the collective response of the civil-military leadership and the Pakistani public during the 88-hour escalation demonstrated that the nation would never compromise on its dignity.

Reflecting on the historical context of the state’s creation, the Ambassador noted that the contemporary treatment of Muslims in India reaffirms the “foresight and correctness” of the decision to establish Pakistan.

He argued that history has repeatedly shown that global security is intrinsically linked to the security of Pakistan, citing the country’s pivotal role in international diplomacy over the last eight decades.

Diplomacy and the path to ceasefire

The Ambassador also highlighted the diplomatic manoeuvres that led to the cessation of hostilities on 10 May last year.

He specifically extended gratitude to US President Donald Trump for his “positive role” in mediating a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Sheikh noted that while Pakistan remains a peace-loving nation, India “paid a heavy price” for mistaking that diplomatic restraint for a lack of capability.

Turning to the future, the envoy linked the philosophy of “Bunyanum Marsoos” (a Lead-Solid Wall) to the country’s economic reconstruction.

He urged overseas Pakistanis to set aside political differences and unite for the development of the motherland, stressing that national unity is the ultimate safeguard for Pakistan’s territorial integrity and its role as a pivotal global state.