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PAKISTAN CANNOT BE INTIMIDATED BY ANY AGGRESSOR, PM SHEHBAZ DECLARES ON MARKA-E-HAQ ANNIVERSARY
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ISLAMABAD
asad Nizami
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said Pakistan can neither be “intimidated nor subdued by any aggressor” as the nation marked the first anniversary of Marka-i-Haq, commemorating last year’s military confrontation with India. The conflict, triggered by the April 22 Pahalgam attack and the ensuing hostilities between the two nucleararmed neighbours, ended with a ceasefire on May 10. Pakistan officially refers to the episode as Marka-i-Haq (Battle of Truth). In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the premier said the occasion symbolised Pakistan’s “valiant stand in adversity” and the “crushing defeat” inflicted upon India. “Marka-i-Haq bears testimony that Pakistanis are a peace-loving, yet courageous, resilient, and dignified nation who can neither be intimidated nor subdued by any aggressor,” the statement quoted him as saying. Prime Minister Shehbaz paid tribute to the martyrs, their families and the armed forces personnel who defended the country during the conflict. “The nation pays tribute to its martyrs, their families and the ghazis who stood like a steel wall to defend their homeland,” he said. The premier praised the coordinated response of Pakistan’s armed forces across land, sea, air and cyber domains, saying it established Pakistan as an “invincible nation” and demonstrated overwhelming dominance
ISLAMABAD
staff report
against what he described as unprovoked aggression. He asserted that India had been given a “heavy dose of reality serum to dispel its illusion of invincibility”. The prime minister warned that any future aggression aimed at undermining Pakistan’s sovereignty or territorial integrity would be met with an “immediate, befitting and full-spectrum response”, adding that the nation remained vigilant in safeguarding its borders. He also paid tribute to Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir for his leadership during the conflict, as well as Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber and Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf for what he termed their strategic foresight.
gHQ to host ceremony marking one year since Marka-e-Haq victory today RAWALPINDI
staff report
A ceremony is set to be held at General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi on Sunday morning to mark one year since Pakistan’s victory in Marka-iHaq, according to Radio Pakistan. Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will be the chief guest at the event. Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief
Pakistan urges UN action over Israeli annexation moves in occupied West Bank
Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf will also attend the ceremony. A floral wreath will be laid at the Yadgar-e-Shuhada, followed by a salute presented by smartly turned-out contingents of the three armed forces. Field Marshal Munir is also expected to address the ceremony. Traffic advisory issued ahead of Marka-i-Haq event.
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“We also salute officers and soldiers of the valiant Armed Forces, who, with unflinching support of the Pakistani nation, inscribed a new chapter in PakistanIndia context,” the statement said. The premier maintained that Pakistan had consistently demonstrated its desire for peace while simultaneously re-establishing deterrence and protecting national security. Referring to militancy, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the country remained steadfast in eliminating “Fitna al Khawarij” and “Fitna al Hindustan”, terms used by the state for banned militant groups operating in Pakistan and Balochistan.
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armed forces chiefs reaffirm resolve to defend pakistan as nation marks first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq RAWALPINDI
staff report
Pakistan’s top military leadership on Saturday extended heartfelt congratulations to the nation and members of the armed forces on the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq, describing the occasion as a symbol of courage, unity, military excellence and national resilience. In a joint message issued
on the occasion, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber paid tribute to the sacrifices of martyrs and veterans, while reaffirming the armed forces’ unwavering commitment to Pakistan’s sovereignty and security.
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Pakistan has voiced concern at the United Nations over what it described as the systematic annexation of the occupied West Bank, the expansion of illegal settlements, and the forced displacement of Palestinians, while calling for international action. The position was presented by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, during an Arria-formula meeting on the situation in the occupied territory. According to a statement shared by Pakistan’s UN mission on X, he said, While international attention is consumed by multiple crises across the region, the systematic annexation of the occupied West Bank, expansion of illegal settlements, demolitions, land seizures and forced displacement of Palestinians continue unabated, and this requires our attention. Ambassador Ahmad said Israeli policies and actions, which he described as illegal and unprecedented in scale and impact, were damaging the prospects for a viable Palestinian state. He said Pakistan condemned Israel’s continuing legislative and administrative steps aimed at deepening what he called its illegal occupation and turning de facto annexation into de jure control. He further said that recent decisions granting broader administrative authority over occupied territory, including land registration and confiscation mechanisms, amounted to a serious breach of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, as well as the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict endorsed by the Security Council through Resolution 2803. He called for the immediate reversal of those measures. Settlement expansion and settler violence The Pakistani envoy said that over nearly four years, Israel had approved 102 new settlements, almost doubling the 127 settlements that had previously existed. He said these steps were deliberately intended to permanently alter and establish facts on the ground Ambassador Ahmad also referred to the E-1 settlement project, saying it cut through the centre of the West Bank. He added that the tendering of more than 3,400 housing units east of Jerusalem was aimed at making a contiguous and viable Palestinian state geographically impossible.