Pakistan faced existential threat from its eastern neighbor India, right after independence in 1947. On a fraudulent pretext, India entered her armed forces with a view to capture the entire Kashmir. The valiant people of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan thwarted India’s aggressive designs. However, skirmishes continued along the ceasefire line. India, receiving huge military aid from western countries as well as the Soviet Union, after 1962 defeat by China in a misguided attempt to make up for its previous failure crossed the international border and attacked Pakistan on September 6, 1965. The surprise blitz on Pakistan was met with the indomitable spirit and resolve of Pakistan Armed Forces and the entire nation standing undeterred by its side. Our fighting men and the nation had shown extraordinary valor and fearless spirit. India continued posing challenges to Pakistan’s existence after the 1965 War. The internal differences of 1971 were exploited by India to its advantage leading to India’s military aggression in East Pakistan, eventually dismembering Pakistan. It was again in 1984 that the Indian armed forces launched an operation to capture Siachen in Pakistan’s Northern Areas. India’s such aggressive attempts continue till date.

Regardless of the challenges thrown our way we have shown resilience. We have achieved unparalleled successes in the most dangerous war – the War on Terror. India has been sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan which is evident from the fact that RAW operative, Kulbhushan Jadhav, arrested from Balochistan, who confessed his involvement in creating unrest and sponsoring terrorism to destabilize Pakistan.  Furthermore, attempts have been made to hinder Pakistan’s economic progress by sponsoring terrorist acts along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). India is pursuing an indirect strategy to undermine Pakistan’s nuclear status and harm its credibility by destabilizing it internally. One of the objectives of sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan is to create the perception that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are unsafe, whereas Pakistan’s Command and Control System enjoys a perfect track record. 

Despite these attacks, we as a nation stood firm to safeguard our legitimate interests. In South Asia the attempts to reduce nuclear dangers have focused mainly on Pakistan whereas the international community has turned a blind eye to India’s hypocritical nuclear doctrine and a nuclear programme that is growing rapidly and has the potential to create military imbalance in the region and undermine strategic stability in South Asia. Looking at the growing Indian aspirations of becoming a giant South Asian nuclear power, it becomes essential that Pakistan pursues Full Spectrum Deterrence to ensure that there are no gaps in its deterrence capability. 

Securing defence of motherland is a permanent phenomenon that continuously evolves in the domain of conventional and unconventional security paradigms. After going nuclear, traditional security of Pakistan became an unsolvable challenge for our enemies. Thus entered the phenomenon of terrorism that was also aided and abetted by the hostile states. Pakistan has been the primary victim of terrorism in the region despite achieving significant success in eliminating terrorists and their networks from its soil without discrimination. Unfortunately, the irony is that those who seek to force their way towards assuming a leadership role in the fight against terror are seen directly or indirectly responsible for much of the terror unleashed in Pakistan in the recent years. However, as a nation that loves Pakistan with heart and soul, we are committed to see Pakistan rise and bring the fight against terrorism to its logical conclusion by eliminating this scourge from our soil. In this war, no one has sacrificed more than Pakistan in blood and coin.
There are countless unsung heroes who have laid their lives for the defence and sovereignty of the motherland. The least we can do to honor them and pay tribute to their selfless sacrifices and devotion to duty is to keep the national flag fluttering high. 

[email protected]