‘When the nation stands as one, no force on earth can shake its foundations,’ says Dar
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Photo: X/ File
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday that the country’s response during last year’s conflict with India was “measured, responsible and precise” as he marked the first anniversary of India. Marka-e-Haq.
The term “Marka-e-Haq” refers to the 2025 conflict with India, which began with the Pahalgam attack on 22 April and ended with a ceasefire on 10 May following Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.
In a message to the nation issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MoFA) on X, Dar described the occasion as “a defining moment in our national journey” and said it reflected “a story of courage, unity and unwavering determination”.
Paying tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces and citizens, he said, “When the nation stands as one, no force on earth can shake its foundations.”
🔊 Message to the Nation by the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/XhPsRqoWS8
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) 7 May 2026
Referring to last year’s military tensions, Dar said Pakistan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was acting “with calm determination and moral clarity”. “Our response was measured, responsible and precise; guided not by emotion but by principle,” he said.
Dar said Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos was “more than a military success”, adding that Pakistan was exercising its “inherent right of self-defence under the UN Charter”.
He praised the role of Pakistan’s armed forces leadership, including Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu and Admiral Naveed Ashraf, and claimed that the Pakistan Air Force had achieved “remarkable operational successes”.
Read: Pakistan gains global trust, respect: PM
According to Dar, these included “shooting down several Indian fighter jets and neutralizing key military targets”. The foreign minister also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach during the crisis, saying the foreign ministry had worked to present Pakistan’s position “on bilateral and global platforms”.
“The events of the last year also remind us that lasting peace in South Asia cannot be achieved without addressing the core issues – first and foremost the just resolution of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to “regional peace and stability” through dialogue and diplomacy, but warned that “any threat to our homeland will be met with national unity, unwavering resolve and strength by all available means”.
He urged Pakistanis to remain united, saying the anniversary was “not just about remembering the past; it’s about shaping the future”. “Let this day renew our collective pledge: to stand united; to reject division; to work tirelessly for a peaceful, prosperous Pakistan,” he added.
Pahalgam attack and Marka-e-Haq
On 22 April 2025, the escalation between Pakistan and India began when an attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. India immediately blamed Pakistan for the incident. However, Pakistan categorically denied the Indian blame.
Read more: Pak efforts keep ceasefire alive
In response, India took a series of hostile actions the next day, on 23 April 2025, including suspending the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), canceling visas for Pakistani nationals, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing, ordering the closure of the Pakistan High Commission’s diplomatic staff in New Delhi, as well as other diplomatic embassies in Pakistan.
Tensions escalated further in the early hours of 7 May 2025 when missile attacks hit six towns in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), destroying a mosque and killing dozens of civilians, including women, children and the elderly.
In a swift military response, Pakistan’s armed forces shot down Indian warplanes, including three Rafale jets. The confrontation intensified again in the early hours of 10 May 2025 when India targeted several Pakistani air bases with missile strikes. In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, damaging Indian military installations, including missile sites, air bases and other strategic targets.
On 10 May 2025, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached after intense overnight diplomatic efforts. Minutes later, the agreement was confirmed separately by Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar and the Indian foreign minister.
