RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir on Saturday strongly warned the Indian military leadership against any war between nuclear states.
“I advise, rather warn, the Indian military leadership that there is no space for war between two countries in the ‘nuclear environment’,” he said while addressing the passing-out parade at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA), Kakul.
He warned that in case of any new hostility, the damages that the enemy would face would be beyond its expectations.
“With diminishing distinction between combat and communication zones, the reach and lethality of our weapon systems will shatter the misconceived immunity of India’s geographic vastness,” he added.
The COAS asked the Indian leadership to resolve all basic issues with Pakistan in accordance with international principles and on the basis of equality and mutual respect. Field Marshal Asim maintained that India could not frighten Pakistan and it would give a decisive response even to a minor hostility. “You will be responsible for future tension which can be disastrous for the region and the world,” he added.
While mentioning India’s hand in state terrorism in Pakistan, the COAS issued a stern warning to the Taliban regime also, urging it to take firm and immediate action against terrorist proxies, using the Afghan soil to launch attacks inside Pakistan. He urged the people of Afghanistan to choose mutual peace and security over violence and review their biased policy towards the neighbouring country.
Field Marshal Asim attended the passing-out parade of the 152nd PMA Long Course, 37th Technical Graduate Course, 71st Integrated Course, and 26th Lady Cadet Course, as the chief guest. Cadets from several friendly countries including Iraq, Palestine, Qatar, Mali, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Bangladesh and Nigeria also graduated from the Pakistan Military Academy.
The coveted Sword of Honour was awarded to Academy Senior Under Officer Ahmed Mujtaba Arif Raja of 152nd PMA Long Course and the President’s Gold Medal to Battalion Senior Under Officer Zohair Hussain of 152nd PMA Long Course.
The COAS noted that following defeat in Markaa-e-Haq, India has been continuing terrorism under state patronage as its top priority. “Use of Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khawarij as its ‘handguns’ also exposes coward, hypocrite and horrible face of India before the world,” the field marshal said.
In his address to the graduating cadets, Field Marshal Munir highlighted the armed forces’ role in defending the country’s internal and external frontiers since its creation. He said that the armed forces, with the full support of the nation, have demonstrated unwavering resolve, conviction, and professionalism in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and would not lose an inch of the sacred land. The army chief celebrated the country’s victory against India, saying that Pakistan once again came out victorious against the treacherous enemy, marked by strategic blindness and naivety about its misguided hegemonic ambitions.
Field Marshal Munir said that Operation Bunyanum-Marsoos had further strengthened public confidence in the competence and capabilities of Pakistan’s armed forces. He noted that the armed forces had neutralised all threats with remarkable professionalism, adding that Pakistan had demonstrated its readiness and will to defend the nation by downing advanced aircraft like Rafales, targeting multiple bases such as S-400, and showcasing multidomain warfare capabilities.
He criticised India’s eagerness to adjudge culpability, evade neutral investigations, and stage self-created evidence as indicative of politicisation of terrorism for the vested interests of the ruling regime. He said that Pakistan gained deep respect and admiration from the people of Pakistan and the international community because of the legitimacy and clear victory against a numerically superior adversary.
“Internally, it has further unified the nation and strengthened its resolve to defend against any threat, whether external or internal. It has reinforced the confidence, particularly among the youth, that the armed forces of Pakistan are an essential element of national power and trusted with the responsibility to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state,” he said. “Our Shuhada, who have sacrificed for the creation and later preservation of this great country, deserve recognition. We owe our deepest respect to the martyrs and their families because of whom we enjoy freedom and independence,” he added.
He also assured the nation that “with the help and mercy of Allah, the Almighty, and with the support of the people, we will not lose an inch of the sacred land, and from here on you all shall be contributing to the same cause.” He also proudly saluted the people of Pakistan, every soldier, sailor, airman, the brave men, women, children and elderly who laid their lives during the testing times, and the Ghazis who fought with utmost conviction to defend the motherland at all costs.
The COAS expressed confidence in the nation’s unity and resolve. He said, “With Allah’s blessings and binding national resolve, people of all hues and colours, age, gender, ethnicity or creed stood firm and tough like a wall of steel.” This, he added, led to a renewed spirit of patriotism and national fervour which prevails across the length and breadth of Pakistan. The COAS said that the law enforcement agencies, with the help of the people of Pakistan, particularly those in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, will surely defeat the menace of terrorism backed by India. “Like our victory in the conventional domain, every state proxy of our neighbour will be made to bite the dust, In-sha-Allah. Like we stood firm against a much larger adversary, we shall never bow against a handful of misguided terrorists having purported interpretation of Islam,” he said.
The COAS also mentioned that Pakistan’s armed forces have been playing key role for regional and international peace and stability. “Our armed forces have also been a major part of the United Nations missions,” he added.
He pointed out that the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Pakistan Saudi Arabia gives further impetus to already existing brotherhood and formalise those relations. “This defence agreement is also step forward to ensure peace and stability in Middle East and South Asia,” he said. He noted it was also a unique honour for the people and armed forces of Pakistan to offer their services for defence of Harmain al-Sharifain. He said that Pakistan also played a role for peaceful solution of issues with Iran while Pakistan ‘s relations with other Muslim countries were also improving rapidly.
The COAS said it was more that Pakistan feels proud in its historic and strategic cooperation, partnership and friendship with China. Field Marshal Asim Munir also pointed that renewal activation of strong and increasing relations with the United States was also encouraging and good omen for the future. He said that personal efforts of President Trump and his strategic leadership for peace in confrontation-ridden regions of the world were praiseworthy. “We will further improve our relations with important world and regional leaders in the better interest of peace, security and progress.”
The COAS also recited a verse from Surah Al-Saf regarding Bunyanum-Marsoos and also referred historic saying of Founder of the Nation in 1948 in which he advised to remain steadfast to face challenges and difficulties as victory is not achieved with just statements. He also advised cadets to beware of fake news saying that they should not fell prey to sources of ‘information disorder’. “Unfortunately, in the ‘post-truth era’, half-truth spreads fastly than the truth,” he said.
APP adds: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Saturday said Pakistan’s economy had achieved stability, financial indicators were positive and the country was moving forward to gain economic growth.
He was speaking to ministers, members of parliament and Punjab Assembly at the residence of member National Assembly Chaudhry Iftikhar Nazir in Jahania in South Punjab. He said during the last one-and-a-half years, the federal and Punjab governments had served Pakistan and Punjab well. He appreciated the Punjab government for its excellent performance in the areas of health, education, transport, communication and road construction. “We are serving Pakistan day and night with hard work, honesty and sincerity,” he remarked.
PM Shehbaz said Pakistan inflicted such a defeat on India in the four-day war which it would remember forever. He said great victory against India was achieved with the prayers of people and bravery of the Pakistan Army, navy and air force. Pakistan’s armed forces, led by Field Marshal Asim Munir and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber, wrote a new chapter as they resoundingly defeated India, he observed adding the government also achieved success on the diplomatic front and signed a defence pact with Saudi Arabia. The Saudi leadership expressed its strong affinity with Pakistan, he mentioned.
The PM said during his visit to New York and Washington, he held meetings with US President Donald Trump and along with leaders of the Islamic countries, played a role to stop oppression in Gaza. The situation in Gaza was very bad as women, children, youth and elders were getting martyred and schools and hospitals were being destroyed, he continued.
The prime minister said a ceasefire had been reached in Gaza and the massacre had stopped for which the credit went to the Islamic countries and President Donald Trump.
He urged the political leadership to work together for the economic progress of Pakistan and develop the country according to the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal. He said Field Marshal Asim Munir was fully supporting the government’s efforts for economic development. He said he congratulated the newly elected Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and told him that the federal government was ready to work with him in the interest of Pakistan.
The federal government is supporting the governments of Balochistan, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in their endeavours for the welfare of their people, he added.
Earlier, the prime minister visited the residence of MNA Muhammad Khan Daha in Khanewal and offered Fateha for former provincial minister Punjab late Haji Irfan Ahmed Khan Daha.