(Columnist: Asghar Ali Mubarak)
September 6th Battle: A Journey from Defense of the Nation to Homeland Construction
(Columnist: Asghar Ali Mubarak)
September 6th Battle is a great metaphor for unity, unparalleled courage and renewal of loyalty in the history of Pakistan.
This is the historic day when in 1965, the armed forces of Pakistan and the brave people gave a befitting reply to the cowardly night of bloodshed by an enemy many times larger than them and did not let the sanctity of the beloved homeland be violated. The following are the important aspects of this memorable day:
Tribute to martyrs and ghazis:
This day is a day to salute the eternal courage and sacrifices of those great sons of the Holy Land who sacrificed their lives to make the defense of the country invincible.
Ideal unity of the people and the forces:
The 1965 war proved that when the nation and the Pakistan Army unite under the flag of one country, no material power in the world can defeat them.
Renewal of the Pledge of Allegiance:
This is not just a historical monument, but an occasion for the entire nation every year where we all come together to reiterate our resolve that no sacrifice will be spared for the survival, sovereignty and development of the country.
Message of National Unity:
To face the challenges of the present era, this day teaches us to unite and become a leaden wall by putting aside all differences.
Today, our unwavering determination should be that we will beautify this soil with our blood and sweat and always keep the green crescent flag high on the global horizon.
Defense Day, September 6, is a golden chapter in our national history when the Pakistani forces and the entire nation defended the motherland with unity, determination and courage.
Defense Day reminds us that the security and sovereignty of Pakistan comes first and the entire nation stands as a leaden wall against the aggression of the enemy.
Defence Day is not only a day to pay tribute to the martyrs and ghazis, but it is also a renewal of the pledge that we will protect every inch of our land.
The sacrifices of the martyrs are a beacon of light for us and as their heirs, we all have the responsibility to devote our energies to the development, prosperity and stability of the homeland.
6th September is that glorious turning point in Pakistan’s national history where the course of history was changed not by any material power or numerical superiority, but by the unwavering faith and undying courage of a brave nation.
Six decades ago today, on that cold September night of 1965, when the enemy, flouting international laws and ethics, unleashed a bloody night on the Holy Land, he thought that in a few hours he would celebrate victory at the Lahore Gymkhana. But he did not know that he was facing a nation for which martyrdom is the greatest honor of life for the young men and for the old, children and women, every grain of the soil of the homeland is their dignity.
This historic day of Defense Day not only reminds us of the battles of September 1965, but it also gives us an opportunity to look back at the long struggle that Pakistan has fought against its traditional rival for its survival and independence.
Since the partition of India, Pakistan has been facing a neighbor who has never sincerely acknowledged the existence of Pakistan. This is why several major wars and military clashes have taken place between the two countries so far: The First Kashmir War of 1948: Immediately after the establishment of Pakistan, when India tried to usurp Kashmir, the Pakistani army and tribal mujahideen, despite severe shortage of material resources, fought the enemy bravely and liberated the present-day Azad Jammu and Kashmir from the clutches of India.
The historic war of September 1965: This was the battle in which India crossed the international border with full force and attacked Pakistan. On the Wagah front, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed (Nishan-e-Haider) held the enemy at the BRB canal. On the Sialkot front, the largest tank battle in history was fought at Chondha, where Pakistani soldiers tied bombs to their bodies and reduced the enemy’s steel tanks to a pile of ashes. In the same war, Air Force hero MM Alam set a world record by shooting down five enemy aircraft in less than a minute. This war ended after 23 days with the intervention of the United Nations.
1971 War and the Fall of Dhaka: This is a painful chapter in Pakistan’s history. India, violating international laws, took advantage of the internal situation in East Pakistan and carried out aggression there. As a result of this war, the Pakistan Army created new stories of bravery at places like the Battle of Hilli (such as Major Akram Shaheed Nishan-e-Haider), however, due to geographical distance and enemy conspiracies, East Pakistan separated from us and became Bangladesh.
1999 Battle of Kargil: This war fought on the soaring peaks of the Himalayas over the Kashmir dispute is considered one of the highest and most difficult wars in the world. On the Kargil front, Captain Colonel Sher Khan Shaheed and Havaldar Lalak Jan Shaheed set examples of bravery that earned them the Nishan-e-Haider, which was acknowledged by the commanders of the Indian Army themselves.
“Operation Swift Retort” and proof of impregnable defense; The world saw it once again in February 2019, when India created the drama of the Pulwama incident and tried to bomb Balakot in the dark of night. The very next day, on February 27, the Pakistan Air Force, through “Operation Swift Retaliation,” penetrated into Indian territory in broad daylight and targeted targets, shooting down two of their fighter jets. The capture and subsequent honorable release of Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan proved to the world that Pakistan not only knows how to defend itselfIt is also a responsible nuclear force.
Battle of Truth (2025): A milestone of modern defense and new military history After all these conventional wars of the past, the world saw the latest proof of Pakistan’s impregnable defense and military superiority in the “Battle of Truth” in May 2025.
On the night of 6 and 7 May 2025, when Indian forces invaded Pakistan through cowardly missile and drone attacks, the Pakistani armed forces, led by Field Marshal Asim Munir, gave a crushing response to the enemy in the blink of an eye.
Under the joint and highly coordinated “Operation Banyan Marsus” of the Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy, several important strategic check posts were vacated in just 72 hours, reducing the enemy’s most advanced air assets to ashes. The highlight of this battle was the successful use of autonomous AI weapons, modern autonomous systems and cyber security for the first time in the country’s history, which shattered India’s dream of fascist hegemony in the region.
This “Battle of Truth”, which ended with a ceasefire on May 10, 2025, has become a model of the most advanced warfare of the 21st century for global military experts.
This battle teaches us that as long as the unity of the nation and the technological superiority of the armies remain, every evil eye raised towards the Holy Land will be blinded as always.
The most beautiful and emotional aspect of the 1965 war was the ideal unity of the Pakistan Army and the people, the likes of which modern history is unable to present. When difficult times came to the beloved homeland, the name and trace of internal differences, political ideologies and linguistic differences were erased. The entire nation became a lead-lined wall. Civilians, without caring about themselves, delivered food and supplies to the soldiers fighting on the front lines. When the songs of Queen Tarnum Noor Jahan and other artists rang out on Radio Pakistan, they created such a stir in the blood of the Mujahideen fighting on the border that even the enemy’s most advanced weapons melted.
Economic Independence: The First Condition for Invincible Defense Today, the concept of homeland defense in the 21st century is not limited to the presence of modern weapons, tanks, and aircraft on the borders. Modern defense experts believe that the path to national security passes through the GHQ as well as the State Bank and the Ministry of Finance. No country, no matter how strong and professional its forces are, can protect its geographical and ideological independence for a long time with a hollow and debt-ridden economy. Economic weakness makes the country dependent on external financial institutions and powers, which directly affects the country’s defense decisions and sovereignty. Huge capital is required to purchase and manufacture the latest weapons, cyber security, artificial intelligence and fifth generation warfare equipment. Only a stable economy can equip its forces with the latest defense equipment. When a country is caught in the clutches of debt, its strategic independence is at stake. Economic self-sufficiency gives us the strength to reject external pressure and make decisions according to our national aspirations. The key role of CPEC and SIFC;
To make Pakistan economically stable and defense-invincible, work is currently underway in the country on long-term and strategic economic projects. These projects are not only oxygen for the revival of the country’s economy but also a guarantee of national security:
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: CPEC is not just a network of roads and ports, but it has become the economic artery of Pakistan. The development of Gwadar Port on the Makran coast and energy and infrastructure projects have made Pakistan the main axis of trade in the region. The next phase of CPEC is developing the country’s industry, agriculture and IT sectors on modern lines, which is the most important tool in attracting foreign investment and increasing domestic exports.
Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC): The establishment of ‘SIFC’ is a revolutionary step to put the country’s economy in the right direction on an emergency basis and remove bureaucratic obstacles.
This joint forum of civil and military leadership aims to bring billions of dollars of investment in agriculture, livestock, mining, IT and energy sectors from the Gulf countries and around the world. Projects like the Green Pakistan Initiative under SIFC are ensuring food security by making the country self-sufficient in agriculture, which is the main pillar of any country’s defense.
The success of these projects is directly linked to Pakistan’s defense stability. When the country is economically strong, the defense system of our armed forces will automatically become more modern and steely to protect projects like CPEC and SIFC. Nation Building: Time for Economic Jihad On September 6, 1965, we fought a bloody war on the borders, but in today’s era, we need “economic jihad”. The soldier of today is the youth, businessman, scientist and farmer who is increasing the country’s production, earning dollars in the IT sector, and standing against smuggling and tax evasion. Until we increase our exports, promote local industry and provide employment opportunities to the youth, we cannot be completely secure on the internal and external fronts.Defence Day is not just a formal event, this day comes to us every year as a question that “How did we pay off the debt of this soil?” Today, we have to give a message to the entire nation, especially the youth, that just as our ancestors ensured the geographical defense of the country by sacrificing their lives in past battles, similarly today we have to defend it economically and socially through our hard work, honesty and knowledge. Today, we pay homage to all the martyrs and ghazis of the holy land and reiterate our resolve that this land is our identity, and its sanctity will never be allowed to be tarnished. Long live Pakistan, long live the holy forces!
