‘Pakistan defeated bigger enemy with national spirit’

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Wednesday that Pakistan defeated an enemy of much bigger size and conventional weapons superiority with national spirit in the 1965 war.
The minister said this in a meeting with office holders and representatives of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) and PBA in connection with commemorating the 50th anniversary of 1965 war with India. Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid and Minister for Safron Abdul Qadir Baloch were also present in the meeting, says a press release.
The defence minister said that in the celebrations of Defence Day, homage will be paid to our heroes and unity of the nation will be demonstrated irrespective of regional and ethnic affinities. “In the face of aggression we are a one nation and we will rejuvenate the spirit of the 1965 war,” the minister said. He said both print and electronic media can play an important role in paying tribute to our Shuhada for their countless sacrifices for the defence of the country. He added that the poets, musicians and singers were instrumental in creating a national spirit of the nation which formed an iron wall against aggression of the enemy and their contribution should not be forgotten.
Pervaiz Rashid said the Zarb-e-Azb operation is launched against the designs by a hidden enemy and “we will deal the enemy with the spirit of 1965 war”. He added that in the war, both the armed forces and the whole nation are united in the defence of the country and will defeat the nefarious designs of the enemy. He urged the media organisations to play their due role in informing and educating the younger generation with national spirit that was witnessed during the 1965 war. “We are a one nation in defence of the country. Our narrative is peace but in case of aggression, we know how to defend ourselves,” he said. The representatives of the media organisations also highlighted their role in bringing together unity and national spirit in the country and agreed that they will play their role in informing the younger generation of national history and achievements.
The officials as well as representatives of APNS, CPNE and PBA agreed on evolving a unanimously agreed mechanism for dissemination of special media content regarding the 50th anniversary of the Defence Day in order to sensitise the citizens in general and youth in particular of the essence of national unity and spirit of Defence Day in letter and spirit. Besides office bearers of APNS, CPNE and PBA, the meeting was also attended by Special Assistant to the PM on National Affairs Irfan Siddiqui, Parliamentary Secretary Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha, Raja Hasan Abbas, Secretary Cabinet, Syed Muhammad Imran Gardezi, DG-PBC, and Rao Tehsin Ali Khan PIO-PID.