It was a dark night on May 7, exactly one year ago, when the Indian government opened an extensive war front against Pakistan. A large number of Indian Air Force aircraft aggressively flew towards the Pakistani border. The Indian media was already busy spreading poisonous propaganda against Pakistan. The eyes of the world focused on Pakistan to see how it would counter the aggressive intentions of its much larger neighbour.
However, when Indian warplanes attempted to violate Pakistan’s airspace, they encountered a swift and highly professional response from the Pakistan Air Force. Several Indian fighter jets were downed, forcing Indian aircraft to retreat hundreds of kilometres away from the border.
CNN reported that French-made Rafale aircraft, considered ‘invincible’ in international defence circles before the Pakistan-India air clash, had also been shot down by Pakistan. According to a report published by The Telegraph, the air clash over the Pakistan-India border on May 7, 2025 should not be considered an ordinary air battle, but rather a complete failure of India’s desire for air dominance at the behest of Western powers.
Every international media organisation in the world acknowledged the courage of Pakistani forces to shatter the dream of gaining air superiority from its much more powerful neighbouring air force, emphasising that the four-day Pakistan-India air clash ended with a clear victory for Pakistan.
Although US President Donald Trump called for a ceasefire between the two major nuclear powers to save millions of innocent lives, he was so impressed by the Pakistan armed forces’ remarkable performance that he started mentioning Pakistan on every important occasion. The aftermath of Marka-e-Haq also elevated Pakistan’s diplomatic standing across the globe. Many international observers watched closely as Pakistan emerged not only as a capable military power but also as an important diplomatic player in regional peace efforts.
Trump’s invitation to the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address the Sharm el-Sheikh conference in the presence of the most important world leaders and declaring COAS-CDF Field Marshal Asim Munir as his favourite Field Marshal is clear proof of the success of Pakistan’s defence diplomacy.
Eventually, this defence diplomacy shone as a ray of peace between the US and Iran. Later, the whole world watched in amazement as Pakistan, the winner of the battle of truth, hosted the Islamabad Talks in its capital. The US, for the first time in four decades, held a direct dialogue with its adversary Iran.
At such a critical juncture, when the airspace of neighbouring Iran was dominated by foreign invading forces, COAS-CDF Field Marshal Asim Munir’s courageous visit to Tehran once again demonstrated Pakistan’s defence confidence to the world. Interestingly, when Trump extended the Iran ceasefire at the behest of Pakistani leadership, those who intended to isolate Pakistan diplomatically found themselves in diplomatic isolation.
I believe that there are certain moments in history that transcend the boundaries of ordinary events and become part of a nation’s collective memory. Marka-e-Haq was one such defining moment that will be remembered forever. The great achievement not only highlighted Pakistan’s military and defence capabilities before the world, but also strengthened our national narrative of unity, harmony, and peace.
In my view, the anniversary is also an acknowledgement of the undeniable fact that Pakistan is not just a geographical region but our beloved motherland. In the past, the Pakistani armed forces have responded to all kinds of aggression with great professionalism and responsibility, and even now our brave soldiers are vigilant to protect the country’s borders.
Marka-e-Haq also reflected the political vision of Pakistan’s first elected prime minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Shaheed, who laid the foundation of the nuclear programme to make Pakistan’s defence unconquerable, and later, his great daughter, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, launched the missile programme during her tenure. The day demonstrates that every challenge can be tackled bravely when a nation stands united with a clear vision.
The writer is a member of the National Assembly and patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council. He tweets/posts @RVankwani
