ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society (PESS) held an event on the occasion of Youm-e-Takbeer on Wednesday to celebrate the country’s emergence as a nuclear state.
Speaking on the occasion central president PESS Lt General (retd) Abdul Qayyum said Youm-e-Takbeer was a shining emblem of national pride, determination and resolve. He recalled that May 28, 1998 was the day when Pakistan gave a tit-for-tat response to India’s five nuclear tests with six, rejecting all international pressures to achieve strategic sovereignty.
Paying rich tributes to the architects of national defence, he said the nuclear tests which made the country’s defence impregnable was a clear message to the world that Pakistan will never compromise on its security.
Referring to recent regional developments involving India’s unprovoked attacks on civilians and a telling response by Pakistan, Gen Qayyum said Pakistan demonstrated to the world that it was a responsible nuclear state. He, however, made it clear that the country’s desire for peace must not be misconstrued as weakness. He said the current challenges will also be overcome with the same unity demonstrated by the nation during the recent crisis. The PESS president also called for resolution of lingering Jammu and Kashmir dispute as per the UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir. “This is essentially required to ensure durable peace in South Asia,” he remarked. Gen Qayyum also warned India against blocking Pakistan’s water, saying the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be unilaterally suspended, amended or revoked. The event was attended by retired military officers, business community leaders, Pakistan Youth Parliament members and leading Chinese business leaders.