Pakistan on Sunday commemorated the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq, marking one year since the 2025 Pakistan-India conflict, as Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir warned that any future aggression against Pakistan would trigger dangerous, far-reaching and painful consequences.
Addressing a ceremony at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the army chief said Marka-e-Haq represented a decisive confrontation in which Pakistan successfully defended its sovereignty and strategic balance in the region.
The conflict — referred to domestically as Marka-e-Haq — began following the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam incident and ended with a ceasefire on May 10 after Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.
The anniversary ceremony began with Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf laying floral wreaths at Yadgar-e-Shuhada, followed by the army chief, who offered Fateha for the martyrs.
Field Marshal Munir paid tribute to soldiers, veterans, and civilians who lost their lives, describing their sacrifices as a national trust. He said Pakistan’s armed forces and citizens demonstrated unity and resilience during the conflict, calling the outcome an “unprecedented success.”
He stressed that Pakistan would never allow any attempt to alter the regional balance of power through military pressure or diplomatic isolation, adding that ambitions to weaken Pakistan were beyond the adversary’s capabilities.
The army chief reiterated that national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and dignity were non-negotiable, stating that repeated attempts to create crises through accusations and escalation had failed in the past and would continue to fail.
According to Munir, Pakistan inflicted significant military damage during the conflict, with missile strikes and air operations targeting more than two dozen enemy military installations. He said Pakistan’s defence posture had since evolved into a fully integrated and secure deterrence system.
Issuing a clear warning, he said any future misadventure would meet a decisive and overwhelming response.
The army chief also announced the establishment of a Defence Forces Headquarters aimed at modernising joint operations and preparing the military for evolving warfare domains, including long-range precision weapons, drones, cyber operations, and artificial intelligence-driven combat systems.
Highlighting diplomatic efforts following the conflict, Munir said Pakistan achieved important gains internationally by presenting its position effectively on global platforms. He praised journalists, media organisations, and the country’s youth for countering propaganda and information warfare during the crisis.
He described Pakistan’s strategic defence cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia as a significant diplomatic milestone and noted that Islamabad is currently hosting peace initiatives under what he called the “Islamabad Talks,” reflecting Pakistan’s role in regional stabilisation.
Turning to regional security, the army chief urged Afghanistan to eliminate terrorist sanctuaries operating from its territory and reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to continue counter-terrorism operations until the last militant threat is eliminated. He paid special tribute to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan as well as security forces engaged in ongoing operations.
Munir also reiterated Pakistan’s political, diplomatic, and moral support for the people of Kashmir.
Concluding his address, the army chief said Pakistan’s strength lies in national unity, adding that the armed forces remain fully prepared to defend the country. He expressed confidence in Pakistan’s future, stating that the nation would continue to prevail whenever truth confronts falsehood.
