ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday celebrated its 55th Defense Day with its political leadership commemorating martyrs and vowing not to “compromise” on the nation’s sovereignty and security.
“We shall never compromise on the sovereignty and security of the country, and any kind of misadventure by the enemy will be dealt with severely,” President Arif Alvi said in a statement on Sunday.
The Defense Day marks the date when Indian armed forces crossed the international border to attack Pakistan in September 1965 and has been celebrated annually ever since.
“It reminds us of the spirit and valour of Pakistan Armed Forces and the nation, by which they thwarted the evil designs of the enemy on this day, 55 years ago,” President Alvi said, adding that it “still lives in our hearts.”
Today, he said, Pakistan has achieved “self-reliance in the defense field.”
“Besides safeguarding the frontiers, the armed forces are playing an active role in internal security as well as the nation-building,” he said, before drawing attention to India’s “hostile designs.”
“We have also made serious efforts with a positive approach toward securing peace in the region, but, unfortunately, our enemy keeps hostile designs against us. It is covertly engaged in destabilizing Pakistan, and its aggressive policies pose a threat to regional peace and stability. Nevertheless, our policy, in this regard, is firm and clear,” he said.
Relations between the nuclear-armed foes have been tense ever since New Delhi revoked the autonomy of its part of disputed Kashmir on August 5 last year.
Urging the international community to take notice of what he described as Indian aggression in Kashmir, President Alvi pledged ‘’to support the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in their struggle till the realization of the right to self-determination... in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.”
He was joined by Prime Minister Imran Khan who said in a statement, on Sunday, that Pakistan’s “desire for peace” should not be “misconstrued.”
“We need to work together for peace and securing a brighter future for our coming generations. With the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A, India had not only violated the UN Charter but has also unleashed reign of terror on innocent Kashmiris,’’ he added.
Pakistan reiterates support for Kashmir on 55th Defense Day
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Pakistan reiterates support for Kashmir on 55th Defense Day
- President Alvi lauds country’s armed forces for their achievements
- Country’s desire for peace must not be misconstrued, PM Khan says
Pakistan, UAE review bilateral ties, economic and trade cooperation
- UAE Ambassador Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi meets Pakistan’s deputy PM, ministers of defense, finance and IT
- UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the US, and home to around 2 million Pakistani expats
ISLAMABAD: UAE Ambassador Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi met Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and other members of the Pakistani cabinet on Sunday to review bilateral ties and discuss trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, the UAE embassy said.
Al Zaabi held separate meetings with Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
“Views on the latest developments at the regional and international levels and matters of common interest between the two friendly countries were discussed and exchanged,” the UAE embassy in Islamabad wrote on social media platform X.
Meanwhile, the embassy said Zaabi discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance economic and trade cooperation in his meeting with Aurangzeb.
Pakistan enjoys cordial ties with UAE rooted in shared values, faith, culture and economic relations. The Gulf nation is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the US.
The UAE is also home to two million Pakistani expatriates, who make it the second-largest source of foreign remittances for cash-strapped Pakistan after Saudi Arabia.
The UAE is also a major source of foreign investment in Pakistan, which have been valued at over $10 billion in the last 20 years, according to the Gulf state’s foreign ministry.
Policymakers in Pakistan consider the UAE an optimal export destination due to its geographical proximity, which minimizes transportation and freight costs while facilitating commercial transactions.
Both nations have signed agreements worth billions of dollars recently as Pakistan eyes greater trade and economic ties with Gulf states. In January 2024, Pakistan and the UAE signed multiple agreements worth more than $3 billion for cooperation in railways, economic zones and infrastructure.
