By Sara Nazir

Every year September 6 is celebrated in Pakistan to pay homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives while defending the country in the line of duty. On this memorable day, the people of Pakistan stands united as one solid edifice to meet the onslaught of an enemy that chose the cover of darkness to achieve its heinous goals of occupying our motherland. When the Indian armed forces stealthily crossed the international borders between the two countries on 6 September 1965, India, without the declaration of war, launched a major military offensive attacking by Lahore, Sialkot and other areas of Pakistan, with the heavy thrust of their tank formations. The Indian Army’s plan was to capture Lahore on the morning of 6th September 1965. On that day, Pakistani nation and the Armed forces rose to the occasion and defended Pakistan with exemplary unity, spirit and bravery.            

The day is marked by holding various kinds of national activities and programs including, flag hoisting ceremonies, holding debates and gatherings to remember Pakistan’s armed forces' excellent performance in the 1965 war, other border confrontations and the brave acts of the officers and men of the armed forces in the line of duty. Armed forces also organize exhibitions for the people, the families of brave soldiers, especially students/ young people to witness the equipment and weapons of war that generate general awareness about the armed forces and their sacrifices for the nation. In addition to holding war memorials, the day has now become an opportunity to honour each and every person who laid down their lives while defending the motherland and those who survived the enemy’s evil designs to tell the tales of their heroics. Hence, the day is now celebrated as defense and Martyrs Day.

The Pakistani Army, Navy, and Air Force all participated in the 1965 War to a greater extent than was necessary even though Pakistan was still a young state and lacked a reliable defensive capability at the time. Indian Military's first assault on the Lahore-Kasur front was immediately ceased by Pakistani forces, but it eventually erupted into a full-fledged fight. Additionally, the Indian Regiment (15 Infantry Division) crossed the BRBLC (Bambanwal-Ravi-Bedian Link Canal) Canal and seized Batapore (Jallo Mur). The same day, a counteroffensive by Pakistani troops comprising an armored division and an infantry division caused the Indian 15th Division to retreat to its starting location. To defend Lahore, Major Aziz Bhatti and his troops stood like a rock and fought like lions and did not allow the enemy to get near Lahore. Major Aziz Bhatti embraced Shahdat and was awarded Nishan-Haider.

In terms of aerial combat between the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Indian Air Force (IAF). The PAF destroyed 100 Indian aircrafts throughout that conflict, both on the ground and in the air, while also damaging more than 10 aircrafts, without including the alleged losses brought on by the PAF's nighttime bombardment. In this regard, Squadron Leader M.M. Alam, while protecting Pakistan's airspace and shooting down five Indian aircrafts in less than 60 seconds at Sargodha, set a new record in the history of air combat on September 7, 1965. Throughout his career, the pilot downed some nine Indian fighter aircrafts and damaged two, a record which remains unbeaten to date. His courage and valour earned him the Sitara-i-Jurat twice.

On the naval front, despite numerically less in size, Pakistan Navy (PN) conducted a number of operations to create strategic deterrence and offered a befitting response to the Indian Navy. The prowess exhibited by PN ensured that Pakistani waters and sea lanes remained operational for ships coming to Pakistani ports. Pakistan Navy had played its part by launching a successful ‘Operation Dwarka’, vehemently destroying the Indian Radar system which was guiding the Indian Air Force to launch attacks against Pakistan. The core objective of ‘Dwarka’ was multi-fold in effect as it was not only aimed at the destruction of the radar but to provoke Indian warships stationed at erstwhile Bombay (now Mumbai) port to come to the Arabian Sea where Pakistani submarine “Ghazi” was prowling and waiting to engage enemy’s ships namely INS Vikrant and INS Mysore to dock out and get destroyed. This maneuver adversely affected the Indian Navy’s operational plans. Operation Dwarka was launched on 8th September and the bombardment on identified targets was completed in merely four minutes.

Since then, September 6 has been commemorated in honor of Pakistan’s national heroes who lost their lives for their motherland in the 1965 Indo-Pakistani war, border skirmishes and war on terror. The day also pays tribute to the thousands of Pakistan’s martyrs who sacrificed their lives while fighting the menace of terrorism. As a result, these sacrifices brought about a new era of civil-military cooperation in Pakistan. It perfectly captures Pakistan's amazing spirit of resistance, fearlessness, and strategic awareness. Defense Day reminds us to stay strong in the face of evil and seeks to convey the right message to the nation's youth and future generations.

Due to Pakistan's armed forces' maneuverability on several fronts inside and across the borders, the world came to know the real strength of the nation regardless of the unfortunate circumstances of the country’s birth. With strong support from the people, Pakistan's armed forces have always managed to successfully respond to any challenge that befell Pakistan's national security, integrity, or sovereignty. As citizens of Pakistan, it is our solemn duty to honor our national heroes and keep their legacies alive through remembrance of this day in Pakistan’s history.