_akhbar.jpg)
Nations are not defended by geography alone. Their sovereignty is protected when those entrusted with its defence possess the capability, courage and determination to confront aggression. For Pakistan, Defence Day is, therefore, more than a commemoration of a war fought in 1965. It is a reminder of a national resolve that has endured across generations and was reaffirmed during Marka-e-Haq in 2025.
When Pakistan emerged on the world map in 1947, it inherited a challenging security environment and limited resources. The armed forces of the new state had to develop almost from scratch while confronting a much larger neighbour. Yet these limitations never lowered the determination to defend the newly established state. Through professional training, institutional development and sustained efforts to strengthen its defensive capabilities, Pakistan’s armed forces gradually transformed themselves into a credible fighting force.
That transformation was put to the ultimate test in September 1965. When India launched a major offensive, Pakistan Army confronted the advance towards Lahore and fought gallantly on the Sialkot sector. Pakistan Air Force mounted a formidable defence in the skies and inflicted significant losses on the Indian Air Force. At sea, Pakistan Navy assumed an active combat role, safeguarding Pakistan’s maritime frontier while taking the initiative against the adversary. The most prominent naval action of the war was Operation Dwarka, also known as Operation Somnath.
On the night of 7-8 September 1965, Pakistan Navy warships, including PNS Babur, Khaibar, Badr, Jahangir, Alamgir, Shahjahan and Tipu Sultan, were tasked with striking the Indian coastal town of Dwarka, located more than 300 kilometres southeast of Karachi. The operation had clearly defined military objectives: to target the radar installation at Dwarka, divert Indian Air Force attention from the northern front and draw major Indian naval ships out of Bombay so that Pakistan Navy submarine PNS/M Ghazi could exploit the opportunity to challenge the enemy.
The operation was successfully executed, with the task force carrying out its assigned mission and withdrawing from the area as planned. The ships returned safely to Karachi without suffering any loss or damage, marking a significant operational success for Pakistan Navy. Meanwhile, the Navy maintained patrols around the approaches to Karachi, while PNS/M Ghazi was deployed to monitor and deter Indian naval movements. Together, these operations demonstrated Pakistan Navy’s ability to defend the country’s maritime frontier while maintaining an active posture against the adversary. Six decades later, the strategic environment had changed dramatically, but the underlying principle remained intact. Marka-e-Haq in May 2025 presented Pakistan with a new form of confrontation. Warfare had evolved far beyond the battlefield of 1965, incorporating precision weapons, unmanned systems, electronic warfare, long-range surveillance and increasingly sophisticated air and maritime capabilities. Once again, Pakistan’s armed forces were called upon to defend the country across multiple domains.
For Pakistan Navy, the maritime domain carried significance extending well beyond the battlefield. Pakistan’s ports and sea lines of communication are vital to the national economy, connecting the country with international markets and ensuring the movement of essential trade and energy supplies. Protecting these maritime lifelines was therefore an integral part of the national defence effort during Marka-e-Haq.
Pakistan Navy adopted a heightened operational posture, closely monitoring developments in the Arabian Sea and maintaining surveillance of Indian naval movements. The Indian Navy deployed substantial forces, including the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, in the northern Arabian Sea. Pakistan Navy maintained maritime awareness and positioned its forces to safeguard the country’s ports, maritime infrastructure and sea lines of communication. The result was that, despite the deployment of Indian naval forces, Pakistan’s maritime infrastructure and commercial sea routes remained secure throughout the confrontation.
This illustrated a fundamental principle of naval warfare: effective deterrence does not always require the exchange of fire. A navy’s ability to detect, track and respond to an adversary can itself shape the adversary’s calculations. By maintaining a credible operational posture and keeping a close watch on Indian naval movements, Pakistan Navy ensured that any attempt to expand the confrontation into Pakistan’s maritime domain would carry significant risks.
The connection between 1965 and Marka-e-Haq is therefore evident. In 1965, Pakistan Navy took the initiative through Operation Dwarka while deploying PNS/M Ghazi to challenge Indian naval movements. In 2025, it employed modern surveillance, operational readiness and maritime capabilities to protect Pakistan’s coastline, ports and sea lines of communication. The technologies and platforms may have evolved, but the fundamental objective remained unchanged: to prevent aggression from threatening Pakistan’s maritime security.
From Operation Dwarka in 1965 to the complex multi-domain environment of Marka-e-Haq, the message remains consistent. Pakistan does not seek war, but it possesses the capability and resolve to defend itself when challenged. Its maritime frontier, like its land and airspace, remains an integral part of its national defence.
The spirit of 6th September is, ultimately, the spirit of a nation that refused to surrender its sovereignty when confronted with overwhelming odds. That spirit lives on - in the soldier guarding the frontier, the airman defending the skies and the sailor watching over the waters. It is this enduring commitment to national defence that remains Pakistan’s most important safeguard for peace and security.
