DEFENCE Day marked on Sunday indeed is a glorious chapter in the annals of our history as on this day back in 1965 our valiant defence forces laced with the spirit of sacrifice compelled the enemy to bite the dust. The day also reminds us of the sacrifices of unparalleled courage and bravery of our martyrs and Ghazis who with unwavering support of the nation, smashed the enemy’s miscalculated notion of superiority. Several events were also organized to recognize and pay tributes to those real life heroes.
Defence Day is also a day to renew our pledge that we are a strong, proud nation, and that we would not be intimidated by any foreign nation, no matter how strong it is. The same message was delivered by our civilian and military leadership. President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan in their separate messages said Pakistan would never compromise on its sovereignty and security, making it clear that any kind of misadventure by the enemy would be dealt with severely. They said the resilient nation and the battle-hardened armed forces of Pakistan have time and again proved that they are fully capable of defending the country and are fully prepared to meet any kind of eventuality. Indeed our military is a symbol of valiance and professionalism. It embodies the fighting spirit, bravery and tactical acumen. Addressing a ceremony at GHQ Rawalpindi, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa drew attention towards the hybrid or fifth generation war launched by our arch enemy. Hybrid warfare is described as a shift away from a traditional force model, to an approach which combines military and non-military tools in a deliberate and synchronized campaign to destabilize and gain political leverage over an opponent. India is exactly doing the same now through different tactics. Apart from the propaganda campaign, it is trying to weaken Pakistan through its proxies. It is, however, a matter of satisfaction that our leadership is fully cognizant of the threat and with the support of the entire nation we can combat the current and potential threats of the hybrid warfare. Over the last two decades or so, this nation has proved its strength and resilience by successfully defeating the menace of terrorism as well as facing many calamities such as floods and earthquakes. We are confident that these new threats will also be thwarted with the same spirit and resolve. Our efforts must also focus on building Pakistan on a strong economic footing as it is the only way through which we can carve out a respectable place for ourselves in the comity of nations.
