‘No compromise on sovereignty,’ vow President Alvi and PM Imran
President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan, in separate messages on the occasion of Defence and Martyrs Day, renewed the pledge that Pakistan will never compromise on its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
Alvi said Pakistan, being fully cognisant of developments in its neighborhood, is “committed to securing peace and prepared to thwart any plot hatched to hamper peace”. He commended the security forces for their relentless efforts towards exposing the enemy carrying out “covert activities” in Pakistan.
Alvi emphatically stated that Pakistan will never back away from its principled stand on the issue of occupied Kashmir.
PM lauds armed forces
PM Imran said the gallant soldiers and officers, pilots and sailors fought bravely and did not care for their own lives and defended the frontiers by offering supreme sacrifices.
Read President acknowledges army's contribution and sacrifices in visit to GHQ
Recalling the 1965 war with India, the premier said: “When India, on 6 September, initiated an undeclared war against Pakistan, the whole nation came out in the support of its defenders; many even started marching towards the border. Such a display of national unity galvanised the already spirited armed forces in their fearless fight against the enemy, which has no parallel in history.”
He said the nation saluted the valiant sons of soil for laying down their lives in defence of their country, adding that he paid homage to the families of Shuhada for sacrificing their loved ones in the defence of the motherland.
The PM said India hasn’t accepted peaceful co-existence since Pakistan’s creation, adding that besides four wars, it has been involved in “sabotage and cyber warfare” against Pakistan.
“Unfortunately, in past India constantly perpetrated terrorism against Pakistan using Afghan soil to create unrest in Pakistan,” he said, asking the world to hold India accountable for its “rogue behavior”.
He further said: “Due to our government’s proactive diplomacy, the international community is now convinced that the persecution of minorities across India and the atrocities unleashed on innocent Kashmiris in Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir must end forthwith.”
PM Imran said that India will have to give Kashmiris their due right to self-determination, under the UN Security Council resolutions; sooner the better.
According to the PM, the government will continue to expose the real face of radicalised India. He added that “saner international elements” do recognise Pakistan’s role in peace in the region.
“Let me reiterate, our desire for peace must not be misconstrued as weakness rather it must be reciprocated for sake of economic wellbeing and peoples’ prosperity in the entire region,” he added.
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“My message on this day to the valiant armed forces is that together we have come a long way in the struggle for making Pakistan’s defence strong and impregnable. Our resilient nation and battle-hardened armed forces have time and again proved that we are fully capable of defending the country and ready to meet any kind of eventuality.
"Let us always enliven the flame of September in our hearts and minds… Let us pay homage to our Shuhada and ghazis and pledge anew to defend Pakistan, safeguard its security and sovereignty at all costs,” he concluded.