Hamein Pyar Hai Pakistan Say’ (We love Pakistan) – a special campaign launched by the Pakistani military’s media wing – became the top trend on popular microblogging site Twitter.
Thousands of users shared tweets to pay glowing tributes to the martyrs and the nation ahead of Defence Day, September 6.
“Our Nishan-e-Haider, our pride,” Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor said in a tweet from his official account.
The tweet also featured a brief video clip of a song produced by the military’s media wing in connection with the Defence Day.
In an earlier tweet, the chief military spokesperson had said that the nation would pay tribute to its martyrs and their families on September 6 and every Pakistani would be a part of this ‘unique campaign’.
Media practitioners, students and bloggers took to Twitter to share their views on Defence Day and to pay rich tributes to the armed forces of the country.
Defence Day reminds people of Pakistan of the enormous sacrifice are given to protect our dearest country Pakistan.
This date takes us back on a long journey of memories full of the sacrifices made by trustworthy heroes of the army. It marks the day of the sacrifices of our soldiers.
After the 1947 Indo-Pakistan separation things were normalizing although there were some unsolved issues like the water dispute and the Kashmir issue.
In 1965 the Indian army attacked Pakistan without any declaration, any sign or warning.
The Pakistani soldiers did not even wait for a second but with highest hopes in ALLAH they fought against those barbaric dragons with great valour.
Their souls were ready for the honor of being martyr. This war lasted for 17 days period.
Pakistan won this war driving Indians out of their country Pakistan. They fought so bravely that the whole worlds praise them for their courage and their patriotism.
Many of our soldiers lost their lives during this battle some of which are very prominent like:
? Major Aziz Bhatti: He has been given many awards for his outstanding bravery, he is also known as “Muhafiz-e-Lahore”. He has also been awarded Nishane-Haider and “Sword of honor”.
There were many others as well who sacrificed themselves for the safeguard of our country.
n Sq.ldr Muhammad Mahmood Alam
n Sq.Ldr Abuddin Ahmed
n Sq.Ldr Muhammad Iqbal
n Sq.Ldr Munir Ahmed
n Flight Lieutenant Saifullah Khan Lodhi
n Aircraft Anwar Hussain
Not only these soldiers but many more gave their lives to protect our beloved country by the help of ALLAH.
Our country has given us so much it is time now we do something in return.
The Spirit of 6th September is celebrated each year as the Defence of Pakistan Day.
It was on this day in 1965, that India launched her forces and attacked Pakistan across the international border without a warning or a declaration of war.
This was in utter violation of International law, charter of the United Nations and norms of civilized behavior among states.
India boastfully swept aside her international commitments in her desire to subjugate the region.
At dawn on 6th September Indian forces crossed the border, pushed back the Pakistan Rangers and advanced towards Lahore on two axis.
The Indian Army Chief, Gen. J. N. Chaudhry was so confident of defeating the Pakistani troops guarding the area and capturing Lahore that he announced to all and sundry that he would have a large peg of whisky at the Lahore Gymkhana Club in the evening of the 6th.
It was 17 years earlier that Gen Chaudhry had attacked the princely state of Hyderabad in Deccan, at the head of an armoured division.
India’s attack against Lahore was held and beaten back with heavy losses to the attackers. The Pakistan Army units defending on the ground, supported by the Pakistan Air Force were able to stop the Indian offensive and roll it back.
Two days later on 8th September India launched its main attack against Sialkot using its armoured division and other strike formations.
This been described as the largest tank battle since the second World War. It was a tough and bitter struggle fought over many days and nights resulting in casualties on both sides.
In the end the Indian main attack was held and severely mauled. Its armoured division was forced to withdraw owing to very high losses in men and material.
South of Lahore, Pakistan launched its own counter attack and captured India’s Khem Karan and beyond. This posed a serious threat to the rear of Indian troops facing Lahore.
In the South Pakistan took the initiative to push back Indian troops and enter Indian Territory.
During the operations India captured about 400 square miles of Pakistan territory but lost around 1600 square miles of its own to Pakistan.
The war ended with the mediation effort of the USSR and a peace agreement was signed at Tashkent.
During the 1965 war every citizen of the country was strongly united behind the government, although it was a military one, of Field Marshal Ayub Khan.
The national priorities were clear and unambiguous in those days, any danger to the country called for unity and unstinted support to the government and the armed forces.
There was no question of any political party or leader taking advantage of the war to berate the government for political or personal gain.
This came much later when President Ayub’s health suffered a setback and personal ambitions of those he had brought into prominence came to the fore.
Pakistan emerged from the September 1965 war with India, a strong and self-confident nation, proud of itself and its armed forces.
It was a nation that was united in facing the danger from India. National unity and full support for the armed forces in the field is essential for success in war.
With the nation’s support the Armed Forces of Pakistan repulsed India’s naked aggression across the international border and made her pay a price for it by capturing four times more territory than India and forcing her to accept a ceasefire, return to the negotiating table and to vacate each others territory.
It was certainly their finest hour of glory and a day to be remembered by future generations of soldiers and civilians.
After the September 1965 Indo-Pakistan war and the Tashkent Agreement Pakistan relaxed, as peace had been restored.
But India prepared a new and six years later in 1971 again attacked across the international border, this time in the Eastern Wing of the country and succeeded in dismembering Pakistan while the World and the United Nations stood by and watched.
India has consistently used force as an instrument of her foreign and domestic policy against all her neighbours including China, and internally against her own small states and occupied Kashmir to the detriment of her religious and ethnic minorities.
This has been reflected by all the main Human Rights organizations of the World.
Recently the New York based Human Rights Watch released its report condemning India for its atrocities in Indian-held Kashmir.
The army gave a good account of themselves and many were killed defending the frontiers of Pakistan and the honour of their homeland.
They fought with great determination and courage blunting and repulsing every enemy attack with considerable losses to the Indians.
Pakistan Army COAS has recently mentioned Indian Army losses at about 1700 killed and therefore 3 to 4 times that number wounded.
The officers and men of the Pakistan Army and para-military forces fought with the spirit of the September 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, and should be included in our prayers on the 6th of September along with all those officers and men of the Forces killed in action since 1948.
The 6th of September should also be a day of thanksgiving. We should all pray for the safety and solidarity of Pakistan and also that God gives us the strength, courage and determination, to protect and safeguard at all costs, the freedom and honour of our homeland.