Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif declared on Saturday that the recent military operation along Pakistan’s eastern border represents a historic milestone, unmatched in the country’s 78-year history and credited to restore national unity and confidence.

He turned to a group of students and teachers who had come to congratulate him on successfully with Operation Bunyan-Un-Marsoos, a coordinated reaction from Pakistan’s military forces to hostilities from India.

“Our eternal and eternal enemy just sits mile away over the eastern border and licks its wounds,” he said. “God willing, our enemies on the western front will soon suffer the same fate.”

Khawaja Asif said there was no need to respond to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “What is said about him throughout India today, we could not have said it better,” he added, referring to growing internal dissatisfaction in India.

He credited the operation to unite the country at a time when visible cracks were shown in the national substance. “Fifteen or twenty days ago we saw cracking in our national unity. Today, the night of God’s grace is united, and that unit now bears the mark of the bravery of our armed forces. I greet them,” he said.

The minister extended his congratulations to the top military leadership, including the Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar, Naval Chief Naveed Ashraf and President Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Sahir Shamhad, for their brave and faithful leadership during the operation.

“I have witnessed conflicts from very close quarters – from the war from 1965 to today – but I have never seen such an emotionally charged and spiritually driven leadership,” he said. “It was your leadership that introduced strength into our soldiers. I am a direct witness to your determination and bravery.”

Asif also praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for having a standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the armed forces at every moment of the crisis.

“He led the nation, conveyed to the military that the civilian government fully supports them, and assured them that it stands next to them with the strength of 250 million people,” the minister said.

“No matter how far we have to go to defend the home country, we are united under a banner.”

He warned that nations that forget their story themselves are forgotten by the story.