Islamabad: The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, gave an indication that his country wants to live with peace with its neighbors, adding, “progress and peace go hand in hand.” He stated, “peace is his first desire” in a speech on Defence and Martyrs Day. Shehbaz Sharif underscored in his Friday speech that his country is for peaceful relations while maintaining sovereignty and independence.
Shehbaz Sharif: ‘Peace is Our First Desire’
He was addressing the passing out ceremony of the training course at National Counter Terrorism Center in Pabbi, attended by senior military and civilian leadership besides the relatives of jawans. Sharif reiterated that Pakistan has no aggressive designs against any country. “Pakistan has no intention of aggression against any country,” Sharif said, assuring that the country has always played an important role for achieving regional peace and stability. “Peace is our first desire as progress and peace are interlinked.”
Address of Pakistan Army Chief: Unity and Stability Ensuring
The call for unity between the military and the citizens by the Prime Minister was an address that found resonance by Army Chief General Asim Munir. “At the same time, the political divisions must not be allowed to manifest as hatred, and the bonding between the armed forces and the citizens would come to act as a bulwark against any ‘divide’ agenda,” warned Munir.
“The relation between the armed forces and the nation is of heart,” General Munir said. Besides, he has praised the nation for showing support for the military in times of crisis, whether it be in disaster relief efforts, foreign conflicts, or on-going terrorism.
General Munir went further to talk about the Kashmir conflict as not only a national concern but a regional and global issue, merely for the far-reaching impacts it indicates.
Tributes and Military Inductions on Defence Day
President Asif Ali Zardari, in his message, paid homage to the sacrifices of Pakistan’s soldiers. He renewed the resolve of the nation for the defence of sovereignty and reaffirmed full support to the armed forces for continued vigil and preparedness against any threat.
On the other hand, during a commissioning ceremony in Karachi organized for Defence Day, the Pakistan Navy inducted two newly built warships, PNS Babur and PNS Hunain, into its fleet. The President welcomed the addition and said that these warships would increase Pakistan’s Maritime security manifold .
Pakistan’s Defence and Martyrs Day epitomizes the undeterable resolve of the nation to achieve peace with neighbours while delineating its infinite resolve for the defence of its sovereignty and fostering its armed forces. As Pakistan attempts to work its way out of an ecumenical regional situation, the call for peace is the leadership underlining the necessary connect between stability and progress.
