Summary

ISLAMABAD - President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan was recognised as a state that not only knew how to defend itself but also served as a guarantor of peace and stability. In a message on the first anniversary of Maarka-e-Haq, he said, “In the context of recent tensions in West Asia, Pakistan, through responsible and balanced diplomacy, played a key role in facilitating a ceasefire between the United States and Iran and bringing both sides to the negotiating table.” He said, “One year ago, Pakistan was put to the test, and it did not blink. The events of April and May last year were not simply a military episode. They were a moment of national reckoning. When India, under the guise of the Pahalgam false flag operation, launched unprovoked strikes on our soil, targeting mainly civilian areas besides military installations, Pakistan responded with discipline, precision, courage and unity.” “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, the decisive centrepiece of Maarka-e-Haq, demonstrated what our armed forces are capable of when the country stands behind them as one. Our response was calibrated, measured, precise and proportionate. Our message was unambiguous,” he added. He said, “Maarka-e-Haq showed the world that Pakistan’s deterrence is not a slogan. It rests on professional competence, tri-service coordination and the resolve of a people who shall not accept aggression lying down.” “We salute our men and women in uniform and we bow our heads in honour of every martyr who gave their life so that this nation could stand tall. It is part of our DNA that when a war is imposed on us, every Pakistani becomes a soldier, some in uniform and most without,” he continued. “Our efforts helped avoid further bloodshed and contributed to stabilising the broader regional environment. Pakistan will continue its efforts to promote peace, dialogue and stability wherever it can make a difference,” he said adding, “I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that the Kashmir dispute remains the root cause of instability in this region. No honest account of South Asia’s security challenges can avoid that truth. The aspirations of the Kashmiri people, enshrined in United Nations Security Council resolutions, have not been extinguished by decades of occupation. They shall not be. Pakistan’s commitment to a just and lawful resolution remains unchanged.” He said, “India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty is tantamount to weaponisation of water. The Treaty, brokered by the World Bank and signed in 1960, has survived four wars and sixty-five years of bitter rivalry between two nuclear-armed neighbours. It was designed to be beyond the reach of political crises. India’s decision to put it in abeyance, without any legal basis for unilateral suspension, is a threat to the livelihoods of millions. Water is not a bargaining chip. Pakistan shall defend its water rights with the same resolve it has shown in defence of its territory.” “We also reiterate our position on terrorism with complete clarity. Pakistan is a victim of terrorism. We remain determined to root out the Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan in all their manifestations. We have engaged the Afghan de facto authorities with seriousness and expect that commitments made under the Doha framework, that Afghan territory will not be used against Pakistan or any other state, are honoured fully,” he stressed. He said, “Pakistan seeks no conflict. But it shall never accept thuggish, coercive behaviour. We are committed to sovereignty, to international law, and to a stable region where differences are resolved through dialogue rather than domination.” “Maarka-e-Haq is now etched into our national consciousness. It was not a moment we sought, but the one we met with everything we had. Let it stand, each year, as a reminder that a nation which knows its worth will always find the strength to defend it,” he concluded.