No one will be allowed to blackmail state: COAS

Gen Qamar says will not spare any sacrifice for the security and safety of the country

RAWALPINDI:

Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said no one will be allowed to blackmail the state on regional and linguistic basis.

“Pakistan’s armed forces will not spare any sacrifice for the security and safety of the country,” the Chief of Army Staff said while addressing a ceremony in connection with the 55th Defence and Martyrs' Day held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Monday.

President Dr Arif Alvi, Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, chiefs of the three armed forces and members of the cabinet including federal ministers participated in the celebrations.

The families of the martyrs, ghazis, the present service, retired military officials and the youth attended the event.

It was on this day in 1965 that the Indian forces crossed the international border in the darkness of the night to attack Pakistan but the nation foiled the nefarious designs of the enemy. This year's Defence and Martyrs' Day theme was ‘Our Martyrs Our Pride, Salute to All the Relatives Belonging to Ghazis and Shaheeds’.

Special prayers were offered after Fajr in mosques for the progress and prosperity of the country and independence of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir from the cruel clutches of India.
Fateha and Quran Khawani waalso being held for the martyrs.

The day dawned with a 31-gun salute at the federal capital and a 21-gun salute in the provincial capitals.

The COAS the use of force was the sole prerogative of the state. “No one will be allowed to blackmail the state on regional or linguistic grounds. We have to deal with the elements that cause internal disturbances.

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The enemy's negative intentions will never succeed.”Pakistan stands by Afghanistan in this difficult time and is ready for any kind of cooperation from the world for peace in the war-torn country as the Afghan people have faced many difficulties during the war.

“After the withdrawal of foreign troops, there is an opportunity for peace in Afghanistan.”

Ready to pay any price for homeland’s defence

Addressing the ceremony, the army chief said that defence of the homeland is a sacred duty which is “dearer to us than life itself”. “In every trial, we have proved that Pakistan Army knows how to defend its homeland,” Gen Qamar said.

“We are ready to pay any price for the defence of the homeland. The enemy will find us ready at every moment and on every front.”

The COAS said that the nature of war has changed in the present era. “We will not spare any sacrifice for the security and safety of Pakistan and if the enemy wants to test us, he will find us ready at every moment and on every front.”

He vowed not to allow the enemy's intentions to succeed, telling the participants that the sacrifices of their loved ones would “never be in vain”. “We have never forgotten our martyrs.”

Rejects India's Aug 5 Kashmir move

Gen Qamar said that Kashmir is a key issue between Pakistan and India, vowing to continue providing diplomatic, moral and political support to Kashmir.

He rejected India's August 5 move of revoking the disputed region’s autonomy and paid tribute to veteran Kashmiri leader late Syed Ali Geelani's long struggle.

Democracy is Pakistan's strength, survival

Gen Qamar said that Pakistan has strength and survival in democracy. “We all abide by the Constitution.”

He urged to promote tolerance to make Pakistan a moderate and modern Islamic welfare state.

“Criticism for criticism and personal obstinacy must be put aside. Whether it is a conventional or unconventional war, Pakistan Army has faced every challenge, but without public support, any army is a wall of sand.”

Speaking at the ceremony, President Alvi said Pakistan completely rejected the illegal occupation of Kashmir by India including all of its illegal steps, particularly, the measure of August 5, 2019 as it was a blatant violation of the United Nations resolutions.

"India should know that the desire for freedom cannot be suppressed for long with use of force and black laws,” said Alvi. "I want to make it clear that secret of this region's progress and growth is linked to the just resolution of the Kashmir issue."

September 6 reminds as to how 56 years back, the whole nation stood as a fortified wall against an undeclared war and the nefarious designs of the enemy, he added.

"In this struggle, not only we decimated the arrogance of power of the enemy but gave a message to the

whole world that as a nation, we not only love our freedom but we do not hesitate to give any kind of sacrifice for our motherland."

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Alvi said, "From our first breath of freedom to our coming generations, every child of Pakistan will be ready to lay down their lives for freedom."

Another lesson which our enemy learnt from the 1965 war was that in a challenging time, the whole Pakistani nation and the Pakistani armed force had an unremitting and exemplary relationship, he said.

"Whether the war is of 17 days or 70 years, conventional or non-conventional, our enemy cannot weaken our traditions and resolve for sacrifice."

He said the jawans of army, navy and air force had always defended the freedom and security of Pakistan with their blood.

"Their sacrifices of lives not only protected the future of our coming generations but made the nation proud for all times to come."

While remembering the unforgettable sacrifices of the armed forces, the president said, "We remember the day of September 6 with a new determination and we from the core of our heart pay tribute to the great sons of the soul and families for their strength of feelings of patriotism for the country. No doubt martyrs are our pride and our crown."