Pakistan is celebrating its defence Day with greater enthusiasm and zeal. The country marks this day each year on 6th September to commemorate its successful defense against Indian aggression and pay tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives.
On September 6, 1965, India attacked Lahore, capital of Punjab in Pakistan but faced robust response from Pakistan’s armed forces. The day is worth remembering in several ways. It made people of Pakistan to show solidarity with each other and emerge as a nation capable of standing firm and united in the face of adversity.
Defence Day Celebration in Pakistan
Apart from what were the causes of Indo-Pak war, from which Kashmir conflict is an obvious one, and who really won the battle according to unbiased sources, one thing is sure that the event of 1965 was a proof of how a novice country despite limited resources can compete with more stronger and well-equipped army.
On Defence day Pakistanis also pay tributes to all those soldiers and civilians who sacrificed their lives to save the country in general and martyrs who received Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan’s highest military accolade, in particular. Army martyrs who were honored with Nishan-e-Haider are Major Raja Aziz Bhatti, Major Muhammad Akram, Major Shabbir Sharif, Havaldar Lalak Jan, Lance Naik Muhammad Mehfooz, Muhammad Hussain Janjua, Captain, Sarwar, Major Tufail, and Rashid Minhas. Most of the recipients of this honors embraced martyrdom in the 1965 war.
Pakistanis Sharing the Memories of 1965
On defence day when Pakistanis are celebrating the 1965 war, many people are sharing different pictures from the bygone days. The historic images show civilians from all walk of lives including students, teachers, nurses, workers contributing to the defence of the country.
Pakistani journalist and cultural critic Nadeem Farooq Paracha shared the pictures of different events like students being trained for national defense and citizens watching a tank captured from Indian troops.
On Sept 6, 1965, Indian forces launched an attack on Lahore. The attack was repulsed. #DefenceDay
1: People in Lahore turn out to see a captured Indian tank
2: Students being given weapons training during the war
3: Pakistani, Iranian & Turkish nurses at a military hospital pic.twitter.com/txJQLjKcjS— Nadeem Farooq Paracha (@NadeemfParacha) September 6, 2018
And, more pictures showing soldiers posing with captured tanks and civilians bracing themselves for defending the borders along with soldiers are going viral on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/ZaraAli_Iam/status/1037548555051917312
The task of defending the country in snow-peaked mountains of Kashmir and Siachen glaciers is indeed challenging and a test of human courage. Here is picture said to be showing Pakistanis soldiers all set to respond to their enemies in the battlefield of Kashmir.
A must see picture of Pakistani soldiers protecting their motherland in 1965 war… Undeterred by the freezing snow, Pakistani soldiers holding position in Azad Kashmir. #DefenceDay #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/JgtzTR494v
— Dr Amjad Saqib (@DrAmjadsaqib1) September 5, 2018
Pakistan’s National Songs
Another thing that refreshes the memory of 1965 war on the eve of defence day is a variety of national songs, which were mostly sung by Madam Noor Jahan. Patriotic and heartwarming songs that paid tribute to the brave soldiers of war and eulogized them gained international fame. These songs that include Ay Puttar Hattan Tey Nahi Wikdey, Ay Watan K Sajeeley Jawani, and Mery Dhol Sipahia, etc. have lyrics powerful enough to invigorate the spirit of courage and bravery in the soldiers.
