President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have marked the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq, describing it as a defining moment of national resolve, unity, and resilience, while paying tribute to the armed forces and reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to sovereignty, regional stability, and peace, Radio Pakistan reported.

The term “Marka-e-Haq” refers to the 2025 conflict with India, which began with the April 22 Pahalgam attack and concluded with a ceasefire on May 10 following Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.

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In his message on the occasion of the first commemoration of Marka-e-Haq, the president said one year ago, Pakistan was put to the test, and it did not blink, and added that the events of April and May last year were not simply a military episode; they were a moment of national reckoning.

President Zardari said that when India, under the guise of the Pahalgam false flag operation, launched unprovoked strikes on our soil, targeting mainly civilian areas besides military installations, Pakistan responded with discipline, precision, courage, and unity. He said Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, the decisive centrepiece of Marka-e-Haq, demonstrated what our armed forces are capable of when the country stands behind them as one.

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He further said that Marka-e-Haq showed the world that Pakistan’s deterrence is not a slogan; it rests on professional competence, tri-service coordination, and the resolve of a people who shall not accept aggression lying down.

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The president said we salute our men and women in uniform and we bow our heads in honour of every martyr who gave his life so that this nation could stand tall. It is part of our DNA that when a war is imposed on us, every Pakistani becomes a soldier, some in uniform and most without.

President Zardari said Pakistan today is recognised as a state that not only knows how to defend itself but also serves as a guarantor of peace and stability.

In the context of recent tensions in West Asia, the president said Pakistan, through responsible and balanced diplomacy, played a key role in facilitating a ceasefire between the United States and Iran and bringing both sides to the negotiating table.

He said our efforts helped avoid further bloodshed and contributed to stabilising the broader regional environment. Pakistan will continue its efforts to promote peace, dialogue, and stability wherever it can make a difference.

Zardari said he would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that the Kashmir dispute remains the root cause of instability in this region. No honest account of South Asia’s security challenges can avoid that truth. The aspirations of the Kashmiri people, enshrined in United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, have not been extinguished by decades of occupation. They shall not be. Pakistan’s commitment to a just and lawful resolution remains unchanged.

The president said India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty is tantamount to the weaponisation of water. The Treaty, brokered by the World Bank and signed in 1960, has survived four wars and sixty-five years of bitter rivalry between two nuclear-armed neighbours. It was designed to be beyond the reach of political crises. India’s decision to put it in abeyance, without any legal basis for unilateral suspension, is a threat to the livelihoods of millions. Water is not a bargaining chip. Pakistan shall defend its water rights with the same resolve it has shown in defence of its territory.

The president said we also reiterate our position on terrorism with complete clarity. Pakistan is a victim of terrorism. We remain determined to root out the Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan in all their manifestations.

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President Zardari said we have engaged the Afghan de facto authorities with seriousness and expect that commitments made under the Doha framework, that Afghan territory will not be used against Pakistan or any other state, are honoured fully and made it clear that Pakistan seeks no conflict, but it shall never accept thuggish, coercive behaviour. We are committed to sovereignty, to international law, and to a stable region where differences are resolved through dialogue rather than domination.

He said Marka-e-Haq is now etched into our national consciousness. It was not a moment we sought, but the one we met with everything we had. Let it stand, each year, as a reminder that a nation which knows its worth will always find the strength to defend it.

Similarly, PM Shehbaz, in his message on the occasion of the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq, said today we commemorate Pakistan’s valiant stand in adversity and the crushing defeat we inflicted on the enemy.

The prime minister said the nation pays tribute to its martyrs, their families, and the ghazis who stood like a steel wall to defend their homeland. The well-coordinated and synchronised response of our forces across land, sea, air, and cyber domains established Pakistan as an invincible nation.

PM Shehbaz said Marka-e-Haq bears testimony that Pakistanis are a peace-loving yet courageous, resilient, and dignified nation that can neither be intimidated nor subdued by any aggressor, and further added that Marka-e-Haq is etched in history as an epic feat of achieving overwhelming dominance over an enemy bent on unprovoked aggression. The enemy was administered a heavy dose of reality serum to dispel its illusion of invincibility.

The prime minister paid rich tribute to the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, for his bold and courageous leadership. He also paid tribute to Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf for their strategic prudence.

The prime minister said Pakistan clearly manifested its desire for peace while re-establishing deterrence and safeguarding its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and also made it clear that there should be no doubt that any aggression to undermine Pakistan will be met with an immediate, befitting, and full-spectrum response.

He said we stand determined and vigilant to ensure security along our frontiers. We also remain steadfast in our efforts to root out “Fitna al-Khawarij” and “Fitna al-Hindustan” and take the fight against terrorism to its logical conclusion.

The premier said no story of Pakistan is complete without Kashmir, which remains the unfinished agenda of the subcontinent’s partition. Strategic stability in South Asia, without the resolution of the Kashmir issue, would remain a distant dream that needs to be resolved in accordance with the United Nations resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

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He said Pakistan shall continue to stand by the fundamental right of freedom and self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

PM Shehbaz said today Pakistan is recognised as a responsible nation that not only knows how to defend itself but has also emerged as a guarantor of global peace and stability.

He said Pakistan’s pivotal role as a key mediator during the ongoing US-Iran conflict and its efforts to seek an end to violence have earned worldwide acknowledgement. Pakistan remains committed in its efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Meanwhile, in a post on his X handle, PM Shehbaz said Marka-e-Haq shall forever remain a symbol of national unity, resilience, and our collective determination to safeguard Pakistan at all costs.

He said as the nation commemorates the glorious success of Marka-e-Haq and “Operation Bunyanum Marsoos,” we thank Allah Almighty and pay tribute to the extraordinary courage, unwavering resolve, and supreme sacrifices of the Armed Forces and the people of Pakistan.

The prime minister said in the face of aggression, Pakistan stood united in purpose, disciplined in action, and unshakable in faith.

He added that “Operation Bunyanum Marsoos” reflected the exceptional strength, professionalism, and operational excellence of our Armed Forces, who, under the resolute and visionary leadership of CDF Munir, defended the sovereignty and dignity of the motherland with remarkable precision, valour, and determination. His bold leadership and unflinching commitment to the defence of Pakistan inspired the nation and strengthened the resolve of our brave Armed Forces at a defining moment in our history.

The prime minister said today we salute our brave sons and daughters in uniform, whose sacrifices continue to strengthen the foundations of our security and freedom and also added that a grateful nation stands proud of every soldier, officer, martyr, and veteran who upheld the honour of Pakistan with courage and selflessness.

The prime minister said Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to peace, yet equally unwavering in defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national honour against any threat.