Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir has said that Pakistan has fought for a long with its external and internal enemies and the country would fight for as long as required in future as well.

“We have fought for a long with our external and internal enemies, and we will fight for as long as required in future as well,” COAS General Asim Munir said in his address at the Azadi Parade at the Pakistan Military Academy marking the country’s 76th independence anniversary on Sunday.

The army chief in his address felicitated the nation on its over seven decades of freedom and appreciated the smartly turned-out soldiers for expressing their professional skills on the occasion.

“We gained freedom after a great struggle and we know how to defend it,” he said. The army chief congratulated all the people on the completion of 76 years of Independence.

He added that alongside the national fervour of rejoicing this day, every year, August 14 brought back an opportunity for the revival of the pledge, for total commitment and resolve, for a bright future of the motherland.

“You all stand tonight to honour ‘independence’, which came as a result of the vision of our great leaders, and the relentless efforts and sacrifices of our forefathers. This day reminds us of the spirit behind the creation of this country, Pakistan ka matlab kia – La illaha Illalah which was rooted in the ideology of the Two Nation Theory, and the manifest destiny of the Muslims of Sub Continent,” COAS Munir said.

For 76 years, he said that the nation had maintained the tradition of celebrating freedom, equality and the quest for happiness, which it must continue to cherish.

The COAS underlined that the parade was convened here to reinforce the patriotic spirit of serving the homeland.

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‘Watershed era’

“Our great country and the nation will ‘Inshallah’ continue to rise, in line with the aspirations of our forefathers, the people of Pakistan and for a bright future of the coming generations,” he said.

The army chief used terms like “interesting times” and “a watershed era” for the ongoing state of Pakistan. He added that the prevailing situation was fraught with challenges, geo-political wrangling, increasing power contestation, hegemonism and jingoism.

“We continue to withstand the evil designs of the inimical forces; forces of instability and chaos, which are eager in their failed attempts to undo Pakistan,” COAS Munir said.

While speaking about the country’s defence capabilities, he quoted the words of the Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

“There is no power on earth, which can undo Pakistan,” he said.

The army chief reiterated that as he had said on a number of occasions the nation had the will, capacity and capability to withstand all challenges, whether external or internal.

‘Shun despondency’

In his address, the army chief urged the nation to reject despondency, and propaganda of naysayers and fear mongers, who were wagging a failed attempt to foment despair and hopelessness.

This country has withstood many such challenges during its creation and thereafter, the army chief added.

“No country or nation on earth has ever met success without such challenges coming their way,” he said.

Kashmir

For Kashmiris, he said: “To my Kashmiri brethren, I would say that Inshallah you will also get free from the clutches of brutal occupation forces, as we got our freedom 76 years ago, through your rightful cause of self-determination and indigenous freedom struggle.”

He added that no evil design could withstand the determination of the Kashmiri people, despite the communication blackouts, blatant use of the bayonets and turning Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir into the largest prison in the world.

“It is for the conscience of the international community to realise, that Indian excesses in Kashmir have gone unaddressed and the right to freedom and self-determination is being denied at the altar of geo-political necessity. To all Kashmiris, I reiterate the assurance and full backing of your brothers in arms and the complete Pakistani nation,” the COAS said.

Message for KP, Balochistan

To our brothers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, who are fighting against the savages of terrorism and proxies for over two decades, he said the armed forces wanted to reassure them that they would hopefully succeed against the menace being waged against us.

“We want you to live in peace, and progress in line with the aspirations of the people,” he said.

For India, he said: “To our neighbour, who has never been able to reconcile with the idea of Pakistan and is a threat to regional peace and stability. I must say that we gained freedom after a great struggle and we know how to defend it!”

India

He was of the view that the strategic calculus of the archrival blinded by Hindutva-driven hypernationalism, needed serious attention from the world.

“We will never be coerced by any aggressive designs, and neither can the region afford such hostility amongst two nuclear powers. Unfortunately, the adversary continues to peddle its nefarious designs against us for petty political mileage; I would humbly remind them of their predicament, last time they tried to do so,” he said.

With respect to our Afghan brother, he said: “We have been the most hospitable nation and wish that they reciprocate our earnest efforts to the least, and not allow their soil to be used against us.”

The country was making great strides in partnership and cooperation with its time-tested friend China and had reinvigorated a new spirit in its historic relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Turkiye, the State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“Pakistan is determined to rise amongst the comity of nations, and we wish to deepen our relationships with all our friends and partners. We have a very bright future that lay ahead of us, provided we remain united, steadfast and undeterred,” he said.