No compromise on Pakistan’s sovereignty, border integrity and national dignity: Field Marshal

Pakistan’s military leadership on Saturday marked the first anniversary of the Marka-e-Haq with a solemn yet emotionally charged ceremony at General Headquarters (GHQ), where tributes were paid to martyrs and a strong message of national unity, resilience, and military readiness was delivered to the nation.

The ceremony began with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, visiting Yadgar-e-Shuhada to lay floral wreaths and offer Fateha for those who lost their lives in the conflict. Senior military officials, veterans, and families of martyrs attended the event, which echoed with patriotic songs and the national anthem.

Addressing the gathering, the Field Marshal described the Maka-e-Haq as “a decisive battle between two ideologies,” declaring that “truth emerged victorious and falsehood was defeated.”

“By the grace of Allah, Pakistan, the people and the armed forces achieved an unprecedented success in the Battle of Haq, Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” he said.

Paying tribute to the fallen, the army chief said the nation would never forget the sacrifices made during the conflict.

“We can never forget the great martyrs of the Marka-e-Haq,” he stated. “I pay tribute to all the martyrs and veterans of the Battle of Haq, especially the innocent women, elderly and innocent children who were martyred, on behalf of the entire nation and the armed forces of Pakistan.”

The address struck a deeply patriotic tone as the Field Marshal reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“The message of the people and the national leadership is that no compromise is acceptable on the country’s sovereignty, border integrity and national dignity,” he said.

In a pointed message aimed at regional adversaries, the Field Marshal accused India of seeking to alter the balance of power in South Asia through military pressure and diplomatic isolation of Pakistan.

“India’s dream is to change the balance of power in the region by making Pakistan a target of military aggression and diplomatic isolation,” he said. “This dream is far beyond its stature and capability, which Pakistan will never allow to succeed.”

He also highlighted Pakistan’s military capabilities, stating that the country’s armed forces had demonstrated operational strength during the conflict.

“Fath missiles and the falcons of the Pakistan Air Force successfully hit more than 26 military targets of the enemy,” he said, adding, “Praise be to Allah! Today, Pakistan’s defense is completely invincible against any external aggression.”

Warning against future hostilities, the Field Marshal cautioned that any aggression against Pakistan would invite severe consequences.

“May the enemy know! The impact of the upcoming campaign against Pakistan will not be limited but will be extremely dangerous, far-reaching and painful,” he declared.

The speech also focused on the evolving nature of modern warfare, with the army chief noting the importance of technology and multi-domain operations.

“Present and future wars will consist of multi-domain operations, involving long-range weapons, drones, cyber and artificial intelligence,” he said, revealing that a new Defense Forces Headquarters had been established to modernize and align Pakistan’s military capabilities with future requirements.

The Field Marshal also praised Pakistan’s growing defense ties with Saudi Arabia, calling the strategic mutual defense agreement between the two countries “a great milestone in our diplomatic achievements.”