06/09/2023
Celebrating 6th September as Pakistan’s Defence Day
On 6 September 1965, India, without declaration of a war,launched a major military offensive against Pakistan, when the Indian armed forces stealthily crossed the international borders between the two countries and attacked in Lahore, Sialkot and other areas of Pakistan, with heavy thrust of their tank formations.
The Indian Army’s plan was to capture Lahore on the morning of 6th September 1965 and the Indian army’s high command had declared that they will capture Lahore and will have the breakfast in the Jimkhana Club of Lahore.
On that day, the Pakistani nation and the Armed forces rose to the occasion and defended Pakistan with exemplary unity, spirit and bravery.
The armed forces fought for the country in a heroic manner.To defend Lahore, Major Aziz Bhattiand his troops stood like a rock and fought like lions and did not allow the enemy to get near Lahore. Major Aziz Bhatti embraced Shadat and was awarded Nishan-Haider.
Thus, the Indian army’s dreams of having breakfast in Jimkhana Club Lahore were blown away. The major tank battle was fought in Chawinda, Sialkot and Pakistani tank formationsfought in a heroic way and caused major damages to the enemy and the Indian tank unitshad to retreat.
The Pakistan Air Force and Navy fought with an exemplary bravery and had almost crippled the Indian Air and Naval assets/bases.
The Pakistani nation stood like an Iron wall in front of the enemy during the 1965 war, especially after hearing a very charismatic, daring and morale boosting speech by the then President,Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan.The Pakistan Army, Air Forceand Navy gave an outstanding performance and the Pakistani forces, being a half in numbers than the Indian armed forces, were able to capture more Indian areas and cause more damages to India than what the Indian armed forces could do to Pakistan.
The Pakistani media, writers, poets and film industry singers also played an important role by writing and singing the mili-naghmas/songs to raise the morale of the nation and the armed forces’ officers and men.However, after about three weeks the war came to an end with the mediation of the UN and the then Soviet Union.
In the light of the above mentioned spectacular success of the Pakistan’s armed forces and Pakistani nation in defending Pakistanin the 1965 war,6th September is celebrated every year as Pakistan’s Defence Day with a lot of pride and fervor to: remember and pay tribute to our armed forces’ successes in the war and to the sacrifices of our Shaheeds and Ghazis of that war to pay respect to their families;to tell our younger generation about our armed forces, war heroes’ sacrifices and the Nation’s exemplary unity shown during that war;to display Pakistani nation and armed forces’ resolve to defend Pakistan against our enemy’s any future such aggression.
On 6 September, the Defence Day celebrations start with the prayers for Pakistan’s safety and security and for the 1965 war shaheeds and Ghazies who have left this world.
The day is marked as various kinds of national and armed forces activities/programmes including, flag hoisting ceremonies, holding debates and gathering to discuss/remember the Pakistan’s armed forces excellent performance in the 1965 warand about the brave acts of the officers and men of the armed forces during that war, which have been preserved in the form of the war history.
During the day the armed forces also organize exhibitions displaying the war fighting equipment for the people, the families, especially students/the young people to witness the equipment and weapons of war that generate general awareness about the armed forces.
A lot of interest is shown by the people to witness and enjoy the exhibitions. Such exhibitions also provide them a chance to interact with the armed forces officers and soldiers and see their discipline and love for the country. These events also attract the young people to join the armed forces.
On 6 September, in the evening the armed forces, the Army, Air Force and Navy, also organizetheir reception meetings, where parents and families of the Shaheeds and Veterans of the 1965wrare ted to pay homage to the Shaheeds, respect to their families and show solidarity with them.
During these events, where Shaheeds’ spirit of fighting and their success stories are discussed and projected by warphotographs and videos, the Veterans describe their deeds of bravery and success stories and they also talk about the events describing the overall war fighting spirit, and sacrifices rendered by our armed forcesduring the war.
This year also, 6th September as Pakistan’s Defence Day is being celebrated with the same love, zeal and fervor.. Pakistan ZindaBad
By Col Muhammad Hanif (Retd)
