Zubair Qureshi
Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt on Monday hosted a reception to mark 46th anniversary of the historic October 6, 1973 war— Great October War Victory— when combined Egyptian military forces launched a surprise attack on Israel and crossed into the Sinai Peninsula and regained much of their land lost in 1967 war.
Every year, the anniversary is celebrated with pride, jubilation and sense of fulfillment as the great October war restored Egyptian people’s trust in their armed forces.
Ambassador of Egypt Ahmed Fadel Yacoub and the Egyptian defence attaché Col Adham Elhosary received the guests of the Armed Forces Day reception.
Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Chief of the Air Staff was the chief guest while foreign defence attaches, ambassadors and high commissioners and DCMs of various missions attended the reception in good number.
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan while congratulating the Egyptian ambassador, the defence attaché and the Egyptian nationals on the historic occasion said Pakistan-Egypt relations traced their origin back to the days when Founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah visited Egypt in 1946 prior to establishment of Pakistan and met Grand Mufti of Al-Azhar Mosque.
Egypt was among the first countries that recognized Pakistan in 1948, he said adding “Egypt is a major power of Africa and has great potential in tourism, trade and military-to-military cooperation with Pakistan.”
Pakistan and Egypt he said had always supported each other and believe in peace, progress and prosperity.
The two countries stand by each other in difficult times and bilateral relations between the two countries are based on mutual trust, said the air chief.
While thanking the guests Defence Attaché Col Adham Elhosary said both Pakistan and Egypt possessed professional armed forces that are characterized by their high discipline and professional performance.
He said military cooperation between the two countries had the highest degree based on established principles of diligent care and full transparency.
While speaking on the Great October War Victory of 1973, the defence attaché said it demonstrated exceptional planning, preparation and the strategic deception operation.
“Crossing the Suez Canal and storming into the impenetrable Bar-Lev line were indeed a military miracle by all accounts, which are presently taught in the best military institutes,” said he.
He emphasized that the October war was fought for ensuring peace. It was a crossing from despair to hope and from setback to victory.
Throughout history, the Egyptian armed forces have been an invincible fortress that made Egypt a graveyard for invader, said Col Adham.
A documentary on Great October War Victor was also screened on the occasion displaying Egyptian forces’ skills, alertness and dedication and cake was also cut to mark the event.
National anthems of both the countries were also played on the occasion.
