Speaking at a solemn ceremony at the Governor House on the anniversary of Marka-e-Haq on Saturday, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah described the historic battle as a miracle of modern military history noting that Pakistan’s strategy and execution during the conflict had become a subject of study at leading military institutions around the world.
He paid rich tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces, national unity and the country’s strategic preparedness.
The ceremony was attended by provincial ministers, senior civil and military officers and members of civil society.
The CM said Maarka-e-Haq had conclusively proved that modern wars were not won by weapons alone but through national unity, superior strategy and clarity of purpose.
Shah emphasised that whenever security and sovereignty of Pakistan came under threat, the nation, its political leadership and its armed forces responded in a way that the enemy remembered for generations. “When there is an attack on the security of our homeland, we give such an answer that the enemy remembers it for generations,” he said.
Praising the Pakistan Air Force, the CM said that enemy aircraft were brought down with remarkable precision. “The Pakistan Air Force downed Indian Rafale jets like severed kites,” he said, adding that Pakistan had effectively settled the score at eight-zero.
He detailed that four Rafale jets, SU-30s, MiG-29s, Mirage-2000 aircraft, as well as drone systems, were destroyed during the engagements. “Pakistan could have shot down many more Indian aircraft,” he said, “but our forces acted with responsibility and restraint.”
The CM said Pakistan’s armed forces used cutting-edge technology and superior intelligence to out-manoeuvre the enemy, surprising hostile forces and neutralising their aggressive designs. “The enemy’s drones were destroyed, and its aggressive ambitions were comprehensively thwarted,” he said.
Shah underlined that the adversary also failed in its attempts to create internal discord in Pakistan. “The enemy could not create divisions within Pakistan. Our nation stood united,” he said.
The CM credited President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for their timely decisions, which, he said, greatly boosted the morale of the armed forces. “The timely decisions of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strengthened the resolve of our forces,” he stated.
Highlighting the unity of the state, he said that on issues of national security, the people, the government, and the military leadership stood together on one page.
Shah also lauded Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for effectively presenting Pakistan’s case on the diplomatic front. He said the world had clearly seen where the truth lay.
The CM praised the Pakistani media for responsible, fact-based coverage that helped maintain national unity during the crisis. “Our media kept the nation united with responsible and factual reporting,” he said, contrasting it with the Indian media’s conduct. “Propaganda of the Indian media became a source of embarrassment at the international level.”
Shah said that not only the armed forces, but the people of Pakistan themselves played an active role in defending the country. “The Pakistani people even brought down enemy drones. The entire nation stood shoulder to shoulder with its armed forces,” he stated.
He stressed that in Pakistan, war was not fought by the military alone. “In Pakistan, it is not just the army that fights - the whole nation fights,” he said.
Calling martyrdom, a badge of honour for the Pakistani nation, he paid tribute to the country’s martyrs. “The sacrifices of our martyrs are the foundation of a secure future for Pakistan,” he remarked.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to peace, Shah said the country sought friendly relations and stability in the region but would respond decisively to any violation of its sovereignty.
