Water is Our Red Line, Will Give Befitting Response If India Doesn’t Mend Ways: PM Shehbaz Sharif
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has presided over a majestic ceremony to inaugurate Yadgar-e-Fatah (Monument of Victory), delivering warm greetings to the entire nation as they celebrate a historic victory.
The chief guest was President Asif Ali Zardari who was flanked by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. Delivering the message to the crowd, the Prime Minister thanked Almighty Allah for bestowing an independent homeland on us and said that our forefathers made unprecedented sacrifices for independence.
He said that Yadgar-e-Fatah reflects the determination, courage and highest professional standard of the armed forces in general and of sailors, in particular, in the battle of Ma’raka-e-Haq (Battle of Truth) so as the nation’s head is lifted in pride.
In a moving tribute, PM Shehbaz paid extravagant respects to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for the historic victory in war and pointed out that we had defeated the enemy under his command. The Field Marshal’s own dedication and interest have been the main cause of the monument being built within an exceptionally short period of eight months, he said. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan was not seeking war, but was in pursuit of peace, adding that our love for peace should not be equated with weakness.
Every drop of the water of Pakistan is their red line, he added, stating firmly that the enemy will not forget the crushing defeat at Ma’raka-e-Haq and if India does not mend its ways, then they will give it a fitting response. Foreign policy and regional dynamics were in focus as PM Shehbaz emphasised that the provision of new development opportunities for the youth of Pakistan will be a priority and that Pakistan is a lighthouse of stability for the region. He gave the Afghan authorities sound counsel on how to avoid allowing the soil to be used by terrorists.He provided sincere counsel to Afghan authorities not to allow terrorists to use their soil as a safe haven.
Moreover, he said that Pakistan also helped end the US-Iran conflict with historic achievement of Field Marshal Asim Munir, he added. Against this backdrop, reiterating Pakistan’s principled positions, the Prime Minister said the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people will not go in vain and Islamabad will continue its unshakable moral, political and diplomatic support for Kashmiris, while being steadfast in its support for Palestinian rights. He also praised the US President, Donald Trump, for his contribution in the Pak-India ceasefire and assured of further improvement of Pak-US relations. Reaffirming bonds of friendship which are “higher than the Himalayas and stronger than rocks”, he highlighted Pak-China friendship. The high profile function was attended by the chairman of Senate, the speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, federal ministers, service chiefs, foreign diplomats, interior minister Mohsin Naqvi, information minister Atta Tarar, chief minister Maryam Nawaz, provincial governors and contingents from armed forces, civil armed forces and regional police.