Key points
- The operation, inspired by Quranic verse Surah Al-Saff (61:4), symbolised national unity and spiritual fortitude under the concept of an “Iron Wall”
- Seven key Indian military sites, including Pathankot and a BrahMos missile depot, were targeted with devastating accuracy
- India’s aggression backfired, leading to strategic embarrassment, echoing the aftermath of 2019’s Operation Swift Retort
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, in retaliation for India’s blatant aggression on Saturday, launched a wave of precision missile strikes deep into Indian territory under the banner of Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos—a name steeped in Quranic inspiration, meaning “The Iron Wall.” The operation stood as a powerful symbol of national cohesion and unshakable resolve in the face of naked Indian aggression.
Derived from the Arabic verse in Surah Al-Saff (61:4), Bunyan-un-Marsoos evokes the image of a tightly bound structure—an unwavering frontline of believers who fight for Allah’s cause, likened to a wall fortified with molten lead.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُم بُنْيَانٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ
“Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His way in ranks as though they are a solid wall.”
Before the first missile was fired, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir sought divine strength in the early hours of the morning, offering Fajr prayers and reciting the very verse that would come to define the day’s operation.
Swift and devastating response
What followed was swift and devastating: in response to India’s reckless missile attacks late Friday, Pakistan launched a precision counter-offensive targeting seven critical Indian military installations. Among them were the strategically vital Pathankot, Udhampur, and Gujarat air bases, as well as a BrahMos missile storage facility—targets that struck at the heart of India’s military nerve centres.
Security sources confirmed that Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos was a direct answer to India’s unprovoked missile strikes on Pakistan’s Nur Khan (Rawalpindi), Murid (Chakwal), and Shorkot air bases. Yet, in a stunning contrast, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) emerged unscathed. “By the grace of Allah Almighty, all PAF assets are safe,” stated DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry during a press briefing.
He did not mince words. “Now just wait for our response,” he warned India following its attacks—a promise that was fulfilled with precision and clarity by Saturday morning.
Strategic embarrassment
India’s attempt to assert dominance ended in strategic embarrassment. Where it sought to intimidate, it now finds itself answering for its miscalculation, confronted by a Pakistan that stood not only militarily prepared but spiritually united—its iron wall unshaken, and its response undeniable.
Back in 2019, Pakistan launched a daring air offensive dubbed Operation Swift Retort in response to Indian military provocation. In the course of this high-stakes engagement, an Indian Air Force jet piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was shot down, leading to his capture. Mere days later, in a move that echoed diplomatic maturity and goodwill, Pakistan released the pilot and returned him to India—a gesture seen by many as a nod toward de-escalation and peace.
