ISLAMABAD – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday said the country’s response during last year’s conflict with India was “measured, responsible, and precise,” as he marked the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq. The term refers to the 2025 conflict with India, which began with the April 22 Pahalgam attack and concluded with a ceasefire on May 10 following Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.
In a message to the nation issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on X, Dar described the occasion as “a defining moment in our national journey,” saying it reflected “a story of courage, unity, and unwavering resolve.” He paid tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces and citizens, stating: “When the nation stands as one, no force on earth can shake its foundations.”
A Measured and Principled Response
Referring to last year’s military tensions, Dar said Pakistan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, acted “with calm resolve and moral clarity.” “Our response was measured, responsible, and precise; guided not by emotion, but by principle,” he said.
Dar said Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos was “more than a military success,” adding that Pakistan exercised its “inherent right of self-defence under the UN Charter.”
Military Achievements
He praised the role of Pakistan’s armed forces leadership, including Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu and Admiral Naveed Ashraf, claiming that the Pakistan Air Force had achieved “notable operational successes.” According to Dar, these included “the downing of multiple Indian fighter jets and the neutralisation of key military targets.”
Diplomatic Outreach
The foreign minister also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach during the crisis, saying the Foreign Office had worked to present Pakistan’s position “on bilateral and global platforms.”
“The events of last year also remind us that lasting peace in South Asia cannot be achieved without addressing the core issues — foremost among them, the just resolution of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
A Warning to Adversaries
Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to “regional peace and stability” through dialogue and diplomacy, but warned that “any threat to our homeland will be met with national unity, unshakable resolve, and strength through all means available.”
Calling on Pakistanis to remain united, he said the anniversary was “not only about remembering the past; it is about shaping the future.” “Let this day renew our collective pledge: to stand united; to reject division; to work tirelessly for a peaceful, prosperous Pakistan,” he added.
The Pahalgam Attack and Marka-e-Haq
On April 22, 2025, escalation between Pakistan and India began when an attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. India immediately blamed Pakistan for the incident. However, Pakistan categorically rejected the Indian blame.
In response, India undertook a series of hostile actions the next day, on April 23, 2025, including suspending the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), cancelling visas for Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing, ordering the shutdown of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, and reducing diplomatic staff at each other’s embassies.
The May 7 Strikes and Pakistan’s Response
Tensions further escalated in the early hours of May 7, 2025, when missile strikes hit six cities in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), destroying a mosque and killing dozens of civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.
In a swift military response, Pakistan’s armed forces shot down Indian warplanes, including three Rafale jets. The confrontation intensified again in the early hours of May 10, 2025, when India targeted several Pakistani airbases with missile strikes. In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, damaging Indian military installations, including missile storage sites, airbases, and other strategic targets.
On May 10, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached following intense overnight diplomatic efforts. Minutes later, the agreement was confirmed separately by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the Indian foreign secretary.
Analysis: A Legacy of Resolve
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s message on the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq reinforces the official narrative of the 2025 conflict: that Pakistan’s response was measured, principled, and effective.
The emphasis on “national unity” and “unwavering resolve” serves both a commemorative and a political purpose. Domestically, it reminds Pakistanis of their collective strength in times of crisis. Internationally, it signals that any future aggression will be met with a coordinated response.
The reference to the Kashmir dispute as a “core issue” is a reminder that, for Pakistan, the conflict with India is not merely about borders but about the right to self-determination.
The warning of a “stronger response” echoes the ISPR’s statement, reinforcing the message that Pakistan’s armed forces are prepared for any contingency.
As the nation marks this anniversary, the families of those killed in Indian missile strikes — and the families of soldiers who died defending the country — are remembered. Their sacrifice is the foundation of Pakistan’s resolve.
