THE Pakistani nation celebrated Yaum-i-Marka-e-Haq (Battle of Truth), a victory day over India, with great zeal and enthusiasm on 10 May 2026.
During the preceding days, academic institutions and think tanks organized seminars and conferences and the electronic media—television, radio and digital platforms—conducted interviews and discussions on Marka-e-Haq. The civil and military leadership generously participated in all the activities, ensuring the participants that they remain vigilant about their responsibilities and continue to work for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity of Pakistan. The theme of Marka-e-Haq activities was not merely a celebration of the victory, but also a critical examination of current security puzzles and their solutions. The primary focus was on how to sustain the dividends the country was blessed with following the victory in Operation Bunyanun Marsus (6/7 May to 10 May 2025). It was redemonstrated during the national commemoration of Marka-e-Haq that the Pakistani nation stands united, resilient and fully prepared to counter internal and external threats.
Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir said on Yaum-i-Marka-e-Haq, “Our enemies should know that if any attempt is made in the future to carry out a misadventure against Pakistan, then the impact of war would not be limited, but extremely widespread, dangerous, far-reaching and painful.” He highlighted, “When the clouds of war loomed, we saw that every ideological and individual identity was transformed into Pakistaniyat — labourers, traders, students, the elderly and the young as well as Pakistani men and women resolved to defend their homeland.” Indeed, the unshakeable harmony exists between the people, government and defence forces of Pakistan, which stand together as ‘Bunyanun Marsus’ against all internal and external challenges. Precisely, collectively, they spoil all the evil designs of the enemy.
Pakistani strategic pundits are critically examining the Pakistani defence forces’ modernization efforts to defend the country in both symmetrical and hybrid warfare. It is because Pakistan’s eternal enemy—India- has been striving to take revenge for Operation Bunyanun Marsus. Since the defeat in the four-day war in May 2025, the Indian ruling elite has maintained that there will be an Operation Sindoor two. Moreover, New Delhi has continued the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and financing and sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan.
The alarming factor is that India has increased the pace of its armed forces modernization to shift the balance of power in its favour vis-à-vis Pakistan and establish its hegemony in South Asia. It is daydreaming about the space for a war between the nuclear-armed adversaries in South Asia. The four-day war between India and Pakistan in May 2025 had proven that there is a possibility of a limited war, but it also underscored that exploitation of such space for military adventurism is fraught with high risks entailing devastating consequences. The Pakistani defence policymakers are cognizant of India’s military buildup, they have been investing in multi-domain operations capabilities, such as modern technology, including cyber and electronic warfare, drones, long-range vectors and artificial intelligence, to maintain the balance of power in the region and the country’s effective defence deterrence.
The remarkable developments in Pakistan’s defensive capabilities despite resource asymmetries include the establishment of the Defence Forces Headquarters, expansion of the space program, formation of the Army Rocket Force Command, induction of Hangor-class submarines into the Pakistan Navy, acquisition of modern fighter jets for the Pakistan Air Force and testing of the Fatah missile series. On 7 May 2026, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, revealed homegrown capabilities in the press conference, i.e., surface-to-air missiles, cruise missiles, the establishment of Army Rocket Force Command, main battle tanks, long-range artillery, ship-launched anti-ship missiles, UAVs, quadcopters and drones, short, medium and long-range anti-drone systems, loitering munitions; electro-optical satellites and an integrated artillery fire control system.
India, for the time being, is avoiding symmetrical war with Pakistan; it has intensified its “state-sponsored terrorism and the strategy of supporting it.” Following the failure of Operation Sindoor, it has been concluded that it is impossible to defeat Pakistan on the traditional battlefield. Through the assistance of the de facto Taliban government in Afghanistan, it has increased the nefarious activities of Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan. To conclude, Yaum-i-Marka-e-Haq is a commemorative day in the life of the Pakistani nation reflecting national resolve, military excellence and strategic maturity.
—The writer is Prof at the School of Politics and IR, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
