ISLAMABAD: A ceremony to commemorate the completion of one year of Pakistan’s victory against India will be held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Sunday.
According to state-run Radio Pakistan, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will be the chief guest on the occasion. The event will also be attended by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf.
The ceremony will include the laying of a wreath at the martyrs’ monument, followed by a salute from contingents representing Pakistan’s three armed forces. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will also deliver an address highlighting the significance of Marka-e-Haq and the role of the armed forces during the conflict.
The term “Marka-e-Haq” (“Battle of Truth”) is used by Pakistan to describe the 2025 confrontation with India, which erupted following the April 22 Pahalgam attack and ended with a ceasefire on May 10 after Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.
A graceful ceremony to commemorate completion of one year of Pakistan’s landmark victory in #MarkaEHaq will be held at GHQ, Rawalpindi tomorrow@OfficialDGISPR #BunyanUmMarsoos #RadioPakistan #news https://t.co/lkbuIlZtqj pic.twitter.com/qro4kLOI7t
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) May 9, 2026
President Asif Ali Zardari pays rich tribute to nation, armed forces
President Asif Ali Zardari, in a statement on Saturday, paid tribute to the nation and the armed forces on the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq.
In a statement issued by the President’s Office, he credited Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s leadership, strategic planning, and “courageous decisions” for the operation’s success.
President Zardari also praised Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and the Pakistan Air Force for their “exceptional skill and professionalism,” while commending Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf and the Pakistan Navy for maintaining full operational readiness and strong defensive capabilities.
“Pakistan is a responsible and peace-loving state. By giving a strong but measured response to enemy aggression, we have conveyed our defensive capability to the world,” the president said.
He further reiterated that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir should be resolved in line with relevant United Nations resolutions.
Prime Minister praises armed forces
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his statement, also paid tribute to the extraordinary courage, unwavering resolve, and supreme sacrifices of our Armed Forces and the people of Pakistan.
“Marka-e-Haq shall forever remain a symbol of national unity, resilience, and our collective determination to safeguard Pakistan at all costs,” he said.
As the nation commemorates the glorious success of Marka-e-Haq and Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, we thank Allah Almighty and pay tribute to the extraordinary courage, unwavering resolve, and supreme sacrifices of our Armed Forces and the people of Pakistan.
In the face of…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 9, 2026
He added that the grateful nation stands proud of every soldier, officer, martyr, and veteran who upheld the honor of Pakistan with courage and selflessness.
“Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to peace, yet equally unwavering in defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national honor against any threat,” he noted.
Pahalgam Attack and Marka-e-Haq
Tensions between Pakistan and India sharply escalated on April 22, 2025, after an attack in Pahalgam in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kahsmir (IIOJK) left 26 people dead. India swiftly blamed Pakistan for the incident, an allegation Islamabad strongly denied and rejected as baseless.
A day later, on April 23, India announced a series of retaliatory measures against Pakistan. These included suspending the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty, revoking visas issued to Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing and scaling down diplomatic staff at both countries’ missions.
The situation deteriorated further in the early hours of May 7, when missile strikes targeted six cities in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The attacks reportedly destroyed a mosque and killed dozens of civilians, including women, children, and elderly residents.
In response, Pakistan’s armed forces launched retaliatory operations and claimed to have shot down seven Indian fighter aircraft, including three Dassault Rafale jets. Hostilities intensified again on May 10, when India carried out missile strikes on multiple Pakistani airbases.
Pakistan subsequently launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, targeting key Indian military installations, including missile storage facilities, airbases, and other strategic sites.
Later on May 10, Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire agreement had been reached following overnight diplomatic efforts led by the United States.
