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The Defence of Pakistan Day has significance in many ways, but national unity and trust between the people and the army is the spirit of 6th September. It is also manifestation of what Sallust (86-34 BC) a well-known historian, friend of Julius Caesar, politician and one of great Latin literary stylists had said: “By union (harmony) smallest states thrive, by discord the greatest are destroyed”. He was witness to the waning Roman Empire. On the other hand, Enver Hoxha an Albanian leader, head of communist party, former prime minister and head of state, a country with 3 million population only had written in his book: “No matter how small a country was it could not be subdued even by the great powers, if the people remained united”. As ardent a nationalist he was as he was a Communist, Hoxha excoriated any communist state that threatened the sovereignty of Albania. During 1965 war between Pakistan and India, entire Pakistani nation was cast into the mould of a cohesive unit that frustrated sinister designs of India to decimate the citadel of Islam.Every year, on sixth September the nation pays homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives while defending their country during 1965-war between Pakistan and India – six-time bigger in population and size. This is one of the most important events in the annals of Pakistan’s history when our military officers and soldiers heroically foiled India’s attempt to destroy Pakistan. During 1965 war, people of Pakistan were united and as a result Pakistan was not only able to repel the attack but also made advances in Kashmir sector. Political parties and people of Pakistan stood by the armed forces. Though efforts are being made to denigrate military by some pseudo-intellectuals, political analysts and some politicians, yet the people of Pakistan hold the military in very high esteem because they had given supreme sacrifice in the defence of the motherland, and always helped them whenever natural calamity hit the nation. It was in this backdrop that dring 1965 war, people irrespective of sect, language, region or province had demonstrated what Quaid-i-Azam had exhorted —- Unity, Faith and Discipline. It is relevant to recount the achievements so that the present generation is also aware of the past events. From Khyber to Coxes bazaar in former East Pakistan, people paid tributes and lauded the jawans and officers of Pakistan army, navy and air force for having displayed the valour when India attacked our motherland. The coordinated action of the army, navy and air force from Lahore, Karachi, Runn of Kacch to Chamb Jorian, had made all sectors the graveyard of ruined dreams of Indian leadership and army commanders who had dreamt of celebrating victory in Lahore. Pakistan with a relatively small army and limited resources had, indeed, given adequate response to the enemy on two thousand miles long border. India’s invincibility as a regional power was shredded into bits when Pakistan army in various sectors including Chwinda frustrated India’s pernicious designs. Pakistan navy had played its part by launching a successful attack on Dawarka, when fear from submarine Ghazi kept the enemy at bay and away from Pakistani coasts. Pak Navy’s complete control over the waters was indeed a miracle. Pakistan Air Force had proved its mettle by continuous air attacks from Pathankot to Agra; and Pakistan Army’s resistance for every inch of land would go down in the annals of history as a remarkable and memorable performance. But successive governments became complacent and did not focus on enhancing defence capabilities. They also failed to maintain the national unity achieved during 1965 war. On the other hand, India started preparing for the second round and was looking for Pakistan’s soft belly and an opportunity to attack Pakistan. In Pakistan, internecine conflicts between political parties and contradictions between the Centre and the provinces had provided India an opportunity to incite nationalists in former East Pakistan. During the last few years of united Pakistan, opulent Hindu minority worked on those misguided elements who had not weaned off the poison of sham nationalism. India had also trained Mukti Bahini to create chaos and unrest in former East Pakistan. It was a tremendous shock for Pakistan when Pakistan’s allies did not ask India to refrain from interfering in internal affairs of Pakistan. They rather stopped military as well as economic aid, with the result that Pakistan could neither get spare parts for the planes and other military hardware nor could it replenish the outdated fighter planes and other equipment. Since then, Pakistan army, navy and air force have been striving to enhance combat capability, and have also succeeded in developing tanks, missiles and other military hardware. By the grace of God, Pakistan today is an atomic power and has also developed surface-to-surface; surface to air, and air-to-air missiles. Pakistan possesses Medium Range and Short Range Ballistic Missiles; the 500-km-range Ground Launched Cruise Missile Hatf VII is capable of carrying conventional and nuclear payloads and hit the enemy with a pinpoint accuracy. But above all, we have Jawans and officers of the armed forces who are committed to defend the country. They always helped the civil government to rescue the people whenever a catastrophe hit the country like 2005 tragic earthquake or flash floods of 2008. During the last few years, our armed forces have fought terrorists, enemy agents and misguided elements in Swat, Malakand Division and South Waziristan. And they have successfully demolished terrorists’ infrastructure. However, there are some remnants of the militants, and the military is resolved to destroy them hook, line and sinker.Historical evidence suggests that even the strongest army cannot succeed unless it has the backing of the people. In 1965, armed forces had the support of people of Pakistan and could frustrate the vicious designs of the hostile neighbour. In 1971, however, the nation stood divided because of the ineptness of the rulers, who could not resolve the contradictions between the provinces and as a result Pakistan was disintegrated. Of course, there was international conspiracy with India on the frontline, which had trained Mukti Bahini, and Indian army physically supported the rebels by crossing international borders. The hearts of die-hard Pakistanis sink to find that due to odious notions of some elements in the garb of religion and nationalism, even today the nation finds itself divided on various planes and into various segments destroying the roots of cohesion and solidarity among its components. Our politicians and people of all strata of society should reinvent the spirit of September 1965, display unity in their ranks to frustrate the designs of the hostile enemy and so-called friends of Pakistan.
mjamil1938@hotmail.com
Frontier Post
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