Pakistani Embassy in Washington holds ceremony marking first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq victory
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, said India misinterpreted Islamabad’s desire for peace as weakness during a ceremony held at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington on Saturday to mark the completion of one year of the historic Marka-e-Haq victory.
The term “Marka-e-Haq” refers to the 2025 conflict with India, which began with the Pahalgam attack on April 22 and concluded with a ceasefire on May 10 following Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.
The event resonated with passionate chants of “Pakistan Zindabad” and national chants, reviving the spirit of “Bunyanum Marsoos”. The participants reaffirmed their determination to make all necessary sacrifices to protect the integrity and national dignity of Pakistan.
Tributes were paid to the armed forces of Pakistan for serving as an iron wall in safeguarding the sovereignty of the country and facing the enemy. The professionalism, patriotism and commitment of the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy were lauded during the ceremony.
The participants also commended the civil and military leaders for providing effective and memorable leadership during what was described as unjustified Indian aggression and a period of threat to the country.
Messages from the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan were read out at the event, while video messages from the Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Defense Minister reaffirmed their commitment to making all sacrifices for the country.
Defense Attaché Brigadier General Irfan Ali conveyed the message of Defense Force Chief Marshal Asim Munir to the participants.
Addressing the ceremony, Sheikh said that during the Marka-e-aq, Pakistani forces, civil and military leadership and the entire nation proved the greatness of Pakistan’s geographical and territorial importance, integrity and national pride.
He said that Pakistan Armed Forces, civil and military leadership and the entire nation had demonstrated greatness in safeguarding the geographical and regional importance, sovereignty and national dignity of the country during ‘Marka-e-Haq’.
Read: Pakistan High Commission in London celebrates first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq
The ambassador said that Pakistan was located in one of the most important and sensitive geographical regions of the world, adding that Quaid-e-Azam’s far-sighted vision predicted that Pakistan would become a central state globally, a prediction which he said was increasingly becoming a reality.
Sheikh said Pakistan was established to protect the honor and dignity of Muslims of the subcontinent and the nation would not allow any compromise on its dignity and honor.
He said today’s treatment of Muslims in India reinforces the foresight and rightness of the decision to establish Pakistan.
The ambassador said that the Pakistani nation had fought for its survival with resilience and courage since the inception of the country, adding that history had proven that global security was linked to Pakistan’s security.
He said Pakistan had played a positive and effective role over the last eight decades on political, diplomatic and international fronts.
Referring to efforts aimed at peace amid tensions between the United States and Iran, he said Pakistan’s role reflected its positive and recognized diplomatic traditions and history.
The ambassador said Pakistan had always played a key role in global and regional peace and added that India had paid a heavy price for mistaking Pakistan’s desire for peace as weakness.
He also thanked US President Donald Trump for playing a positive role in efforts towards a ceasefire between the two nuclear powers.
Learn more: Showbiz salutes the spirit of “Marka-e-Haq”
Sheikh said the events, which lasted 88 hours, revived the spirit of Pakistani identity among overseas Pakistanis across the world.
He stressed that putting aside differences and demonstrating unity for the security, reconstruction and development of the country was a national responsibility.
The ambassador said the philosophy of “Bunyanum Marsoos” was linked to economic development.
