Marka-e-Haq’s 1st anniversary
PM, President Zardari, military chiefs hail Marka-e-Haq success, stress unity, resolve and deterrence
Islamabad
Pakistan’s civil and military leadership on Saturday renewed their pledge to defend the country, warning that any aggression aimed at undermining it would be met with an “immediate, befitting and full-spectrum response” as the nation marked the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq.
The term “Marka-e-Haq” refers to the 2025 conflict with India, which began with the April 22 Pahalgam attack and concluded with a ceasefire on May 10 following Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the prime minister paid tribute to the martyrs and their families, saying they stood like a steel wall in defence of the homeland.
“Marka-e-Haq is a day to bow in gratitude before Allah Almighty for His countless blessings upon us. Today, we commemorate Pakistan’s valiant stand in adversity and the crushing defeat we inflicted on the enemy,” he said.
Praising the armed forces, he said their well-coordinated and synchronised response across land, sea, air and cyber domains had established Pakistan as an invincible nation. He added that Marka-e-Haq stood as testimony that Pakistanis were a peace-loving, yet courageous, resilient and dignified nation “who can neither be intimidated nor subdued by any aggressor”.
“Marka-e-Haq is etched in history as an epic feat of achieving overwhelming dominance over an enemy, bent on unprovoked aggression. The enemy was administered a heavy dose of reality serum to dispel its illusion of invincibility,” the prime minister said.
Paying tribute to Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, the premier lauded his leadership, alongside the air chief and naval chief, as well as officers and soldiers of the armed forces, who, with the support of the nation, “inscribed a new chapter in the Pakistan-India context”.
“Pakistan clearly manifested its desire for peace, while re-establishing deterrence and safeguarding its security, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.
“Let there be no doubt that any aggression to undermine Pakistan will be met with an immediate, befitting and full-spectrum response,” the prime minister warned.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to defend the motherland, saying: “We remain steadfast in our efforts to root out” terrorist groups and take the fight against them to its logical conclusion.
The prime minister also reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to the Kashmir dispute, reiterating Islamabad’s continued support for the Kashmiri people’s fundamental right to freedom and self-determination.
“ . Strategic stability in South Asia, without the resolution of the Kashmir issue, would remain a distant dream which needs to be resolved in accordance with the United Nations resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,” he added.
Highlighting Pakistan’s enhanced international image since last year’s victory and its mediation role in the US-Iran conflict, he said the country was now recognised as a responsible state that not only knew how to defend itself but had also emerged as a contributor to global peace and stability.
“Pakistan’s pivotal role as a key mediator during the ongoing US-Iran conflict and our efforts to seek an end to violence have earned worldwide acknowledgement,” he said, adding that Islamabad remained committed to the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
President Asif Ali Zardari also paid tribute to the nation and armed forces on the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Office, the president said CDF Munir’s leadership, strategy and “courageous decisions” were key to the success of Marka-e-Haq.
He also lauded the air chief and the Pakistan Air Force for their “exceptional skill and professionalism”.
President Zardari praised the naval chief and forces, describing their full operational readiness and defence capabilities as a source of national pride.
“Pakistan is a responsible and peace-loving state. By giving a strong but measured response to enemy aggression, we have conveyed our defensive capability to the world,” the president said.
He said the issue of Jammu and Kashmir must be resolved in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
