Defence Day and Kashmir

As the nation showcases solidarity and assures the Kashmir of its unwavering support in its struggle for freedom


Editorial September 07, 2019

Pakistan marked Kashmir Solidarity Day alongside its 54th Defence and Martyrs Day on Friday, the 6th of September. The day began with special prayers and a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21-gun salutes in the provincial capitals. The main ceremony marking the anniversary of the 1965 war was held at the GHQ in Rawalpindi to pay tribute to the heroic sacrifices of our soldiers in the defence of our motherland.

The whole nation stood united in remembrance of the sacrifices and gallantry of the soldiers as well as for assuring the Kashmiri brethren of its unwavering support in their struggle for freedom from the yoke of Indian subjugation. The civilian and military leadership, in their messages, referred to the Day as a symbol of enduring display of unity, indomitable courage and unparalleled sacrifices by our gallant soldiers, alongside reminding the world that Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of the completion of Pakistan, and would remain so until the outstanding dispute is resolved in line with the UN resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

The Defence and Martyrs Day — also observed as Kashmir Solidarity Day — holds a much greater significance than just their respective events. While the day rekindles the light that is dimmed by time and rejuvenates forgotten sacrifices, it also reminds us of ethical principles of human rights that we must stand for as well as certain moral responsibilities that we as humans, living communally, must uphold — the values of bravery, courage, sacrifice, unity, etc.

There could be no better day than the 6th of September to remind the international community that we as a nation stand for the people of Kashmir and condemn the atrocities happening in the occupied region. It is also important for the world to understand the ground realities in the context of the prevailing tensions between Pakistan and India, like Kashmir being a nuclear flashpoint. The world must realise that a nuclear war must be prevented at all costs, else it would engulf the whole of the region and beyond. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7th, 2019.

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