DNA

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Azerbaijan have reaffirmed strong resolve to further deepen and broaden bilateral cooperation in diverse areas including energy.

The understanding was reached at a telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Heydar Aliyev today [Wednesday].    

During the conversation, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the generous assistance of two million dollars extended by Azerbaijan to the flood affected people of Pakistan.

He shared that Pakistan has been battling one of the most severe cycles of torrential monsoon weather which resulted in loss of lives, livelihood and extensive damage to the infrastructure.

The Prime Minister said the destruction of infrastructure has severely limited the delivery of assistance and relocation of flood affected people.

Speaking about the historic bilateral ties between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, Shehbaz Sharif said the two countries support each other at the United Nations, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Economic Cooperation Organization.

Lisbon, Portugal: The Ismaili Imamat has announced it will be donating US$10 million to support relief efforts following the severe flooding in Pakistan.  $5m will be donated directly to the Government of Pakistan while a further $5m will be provided to the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) agencies in the country, which are engaged in the relief efforts.

The donation comes following a discussion on Sunday between the Prime Minister of Pakistan,Mr. Shahbaz Sharif,and Prince Rahim Aga Khan,Chair of AKDN’s Environment and Climate Committee and eldest son of His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49^th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. 

Prince Rahim said“I am deeply concerned about the impact of the current floods in Pakistan, which have been intensified by the effects of climate change. These floods, and the many other weather events we are experiencing around the world, require us all—governments, businesses, communities, and individuals—to redouble our efforts to combat the climate crisis which threatens to engulf us.The institutions of the Ismaili Imamat have been mobilised to support the government in its relief and rehabilitation efforts.”

During the discussion, the Prime Minister expressed appreciation on behalf of the people and Government of Pakistan for the unwavering support of the Ismaili Imamat and the AKDN institutions.  He also expressed his deepest respects for the work that the AKDN institutions have been delivering in Pakistan since its independence.

The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat and FOCUS are AKDN’s lead response agencies for relief efforts. To date over 8,000 people have been successfully evacuated from affected areas while more than 4,000 families have been provided with food packages since the start of the flooding. Healthcare camps have been set up in several parts of the country by the Aga Khan University and Aga Khan Health Service where over 2,000 flood affected people have been given assistance.

HBLBank and Jubilee LifeInsurance, both part of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development portfolio, have been active supporters in the relief efforts providing food rations and waterproof tents to over 12,000 families. Additionally, social safety payments by the Government of Pakistan are being disbursed to over 1 million people through HBL’s Konnect platform.

AKDN Helicopter operations have also been assisting in rescue missions and supporting the delivery of food items and medicines to remote areas in Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Peshawar: Former prime minister Imran Khan, during his speech at a PTI rally in Peshawar on Tuesday, explained that his criticism of the army was “constructive and for its own improvement” as opposed to the comments made in the past by incumbent government leaders — clips of which were shown on the big screen in front of PTI supporters as he tried making his point.

“Those from the PML-N should get this straight that we are the people who would strengthen this country’s institutions,” he said. “And even if we do criticise our army, it is for their betterment. What we do is constructive criticism.”

Referring to his remarks at the Faisalabad rally on Sunday — where he had alleged the PPP and PML-N were opposing fresh elections because they wanted to “appoint an army chief of their choice” in November to save their skin in corruption cases — the PTI chief said that he had called for the selection of the army chief to be based on merit.

“Any person who is a well-wisher of someone would always want selection on the basis of merit. This is the world’s principle […] what did I say wrong?

“And along with that, I had said that Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari should not select the country’s army chief,” he recalled, adding that an absconder and criminal should not be given the power to appoint the country’s army chief.

Imran also referred to the Dawn Leaks, saying that it had revealed that the PML-N and Nawaz never backed the army.

Firing broadsides at former president Asif Ali Zardari, he said that the PPP leader had approached the United States to “protect his government”.

“Will we give [the selection] of these important posts to these people? Never.”

‘Statement against sessions judge not intentional’

The PTI chief also slammed the PML-N for attacking the judiciary.

“When I started politics 26 years back, we were the first to stand up for the judiciary. There was only one leader who went to jail for the judiciary and boycotted the 2008 elections for them,” he said.

Imran pointed out that the PTI always respected the judiciary because it believed in the rule of law.

Referring to his comments on additional sessions judge Zeba Chaudhry, the ex-premier said that if it seemed like he had used a hard tone against her it was because he had seen the “custodial torture of Shahbaz Gill”.

“If it looked like my statements were harsh, this was not my intention. I can’t ever think of threatening a judge,” Imran said.

‘Govt trying to turn institutions against PTI’

At the beginning of his address, Imran claimed that the government was trying to create misunderstandings between the Pakistan Army and the country’s “largest party”.

“This gang of robbers have realised that they can’t defeat us. The three stooges know that they can’t win by playing the match […] So, now they are trying to disqualify me. Sometimes it is Toshakhana, sometimes it is the election commission. They have declared me to be a terrorist in court.

“They are just trying to stop Imran Khan from playing the match,” he said.

Imran went on to allege that the government was hatching “dangerous conspiracies” that included turning the institutions against the PTI only to “win the match”.

“They have a propaganda cell that only tries to turn whatever I say against the army or the judiciary.”

But, Imran said that people were now “politically aware”.

“Today, I want to tell you that until and unless our institutions are not strong, the country can not succeed,” the PTI chief said. “The nation has realised that they [the PDM] are trying to pit the PTI against the institutions.

“The more you try to push PTI against the wall, the more I will fight you,” he warned.

Imran claimed that the incumbent government had been imposed on the nation to weaken the country and called on his supporters to join PTI’s movement of “haqeeqi azaadi” (true freedom).

Scores of PTI supporters, decked in red and green scarves and bands, gathered in Peshawar on Tuesday evening. The crowd chanted slogans against the incumbent government and leaders of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

However, immediately after Imran’s arrival, a number of people, including PTI leaders, tweeted that YouTube had been blocked in the country.

COAS General Bajwa says Freedom owed  to sacrifices  of Martyrs

Irshad Ali

ISLAMABAD: Anyone intending to hurt the bond between the country’s armed forces and its people is not a friend of Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in his message on Defence Day.

Pakistan is observing today (Tuesday) Defence Day with patriotic zeal and zest and remembering the valorous martyrs of the 1965 war, as the nation continues its battle against historic floods.

The nation observes the day every year on September 6 to pay homage to the shuhahda and ghazis of the battle and reaffirm its commitment to defend Pakistan against all threats.

The day marks the start of the Pakistan-India war in 1965 when Indian troops breached the international border in the darkness of the night with the intention to take control of the country but the nefarious designs of the enemy were thwarted by Pakistan army.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on the occasion that Defence Day symbolises the unwavering resolve of the armed forces, backed by the “great Pakistani nation to defend [the] motherland against all odds”.

“We owe our freedom & peace to unprecedented sacrifices of martyrs 2 keep the flag high,” the military’s media wing quoted Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa as saying.

On Tuesday, the celebrations started off with special prayers in mosques after fajr. The nation prayed for the progress and prosperity of the country and the independence of Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.  

A change of guards ceremony took place at the Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi and the guards of Pakistan Air Force’s Asghar Khan Academy assumed charge at the mausoleum.

Similar ceremonies and events were organised at the tomb of Allama Iqbal, schools and other educational institutes.

As Pakistan grapples with the historic floods and other challenges, we need to summon the spirit of 1965, PM Shehbaz said.

“National unity is our greatest strength. Let us fortify this bond of One Nation,” he wrote on Twitter.

The PM also said that it is a matter of great pride that the valiant armed forces and the brave Pakistani nation have carried forward the proud legacy of the 1965 war by successfully “defeating the monsters of terrorism and extremism in their two-decade-old struggle”.

Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday said ‘We owe our freedom and peace to the unprecedented sacrifices of martyrs to keep the flag high’.

The Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR DG) shared the message of the Army Chief on the official Twitter handle of the ISPR.

The Army Chief said September 6 symbolised unwavering resolve of Pakistan Armed Forces backed by the great nation to defend motherland against all odds, adding, “Nation salutes our heroes.”

The tweet was followed by hashtags #OurMartyrsOurHeroes and #JurratKeNishaan (symbol of valour).

 “Anyone intending to hurt the bond between the country’s armed forces and its people is not a friend of Pakistan”, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in his message on Defence Day.

Pakistan observed Defence Day with patriotic zeal and zest and remembering the valorous martyrs of the 1965 war, as the nation continues its battle against historic floods.

The nation observes the day every year on September 6 to pay homage to the shuhahda and ghazis of the battle and reaffirm its commitment to defend Pakistan against all threats.

The day marks the start of the Pakistan-India war in 1965 when Indian troops breached the international border in the darkness of the night with the intention to take control of the country but the nefarious designs of the enemy were thwarted by Pakistan army.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on the occasion that Defence Day symbolises the unwavering resolve of the armed forces, backed by the “great Pakistani nation to defend [the] motherland against all odds”.

“We owe our freedom & peace to unprecedented sacrifices of martyrs 2 keep the flag high,” the military’s media wing quoted Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa as saying.

On Tuesday, the celebrations started off with special prayers in mosques after fajr. The nation prayed for the progress and prosperity of the country and the independence of Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.  

A change of guards ceremony took place at the Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi and the guards of Pakistan Air Force’s Asghar Khan Academy assumed charge at the mausoleum.

Similar ceremonies and events were organised at the tomb of Allama Iqbal, schools and other educational institutes.

As Pakistan grapples with the historic floods and other challenges, we need to summon the spirit of 1965, PM Shehbaz said.

“National unity is our greatest strength. Let us fortify this bond of One Nation,” he wrote on Twitter.

The PM also said that it is a matter of great pride that the valiant armed forces and the brave Pakistani nation have carried forward the proud legacy of the 1965 war by successfully “defeating the monsters of terrorism and extremism in their two-decade-old struggle”.

President Dr Arif Alvi said the 6th of September is remembered as a symbol of courage, display of unmatched resilience and the spirit of supreme sacrifice by the valiant sons of the soil.

He said in that testing time, not only the Armed Forces of Pakistan fought fearlessly on ground, in air and in waters, but each and every citizen came out to defend and safeguard the motherland. 

Referring to Pakistan’s success in the two decades long war against terror, he said Pakistan Armed Forces’ contribution in peace missions worldwide is a matter of great pride which is also rightly acknowledged by the international community.

ISLAMABAD, SEP 6: /DNA/ – The Arms Control and Disarmament Centre (ACDC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) organised an in-house meeting to celebrate Pakistan Defence Day titled  “Pakistan`s Defence Day: 75 Years of National Defence” On Tuesday, September 06 , 2022

In his opening remarks, Malik Qasim Mustafa, Director ACDC, highlighted that every year, the Pakistan nation celebrates September 6 as Pakistan’s Defence Day. The nation commemorates this national day as one of the proudest moments in Pakistan’s history when our Pakistani soldiers sacrificed their lives to safeguard our freedom and protect our homeland. September 6, 2022 to mark the 57th Defence, and ACDC has organised this event with a theme of “Pakistan`s Defence Day: 75 Years of National Defence.”

In her briefing, Ms Aamna Rafiq, Research Associate ACDC, said that Pakistan started its defence journey in 1947 Pakistan with only got 33% of defence assets from united India. Pakistan fought a war over Kashmir right at its inception, another one in 1965 and 1971. Pakistan has also contributed tremendously to UN peace keeping forces around the world. Then Pakistan became an overt nuclear power in 1998. She said that Pakistan armed forces are 6^th largest and 9^th most powerful in the world. Pakistan has also increasing defence export named as Arms for Peace.  Pakistan armed forces achieved much over the last 75 years. But Pakistan needs to develop and advance economically, in health, technology, and in human development.

Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General ISSI reminisced his experience as a child of the 1965 war. He said that the definition of defence has changed. Today non-traditional security is important. Also hybrid war, economic sanction, cyber threats transcend borders. He stressed that unity is needed to tackle any challenge – be it military, political or economic. Ethnic fault lines need to be bridged to achieve unity. He talked about the need to manage national issues efficiently. Mentioning the flood crisis that Pakistan is facing, he said that Pakistan can manage the water issues.

Participants around the In-House appreciated the sacrifices of Pakistan forces and said that with Pakistan there is no compromise on territorial integrity and sovereignty. National unity is needed to defend borders then and now. Others expressed confidence in Pakistan’s armed forces that they can defend our borders. Pakistan proved it during 2019 Pulwama Crisis that it can defend its territory.

DNA

QUETTA, SEP 6: General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) spent a complete defence & martyrs’ day visiting far-flung flood affected areas of Balochistan today.

On arrival, COAS visited army flood relief camp at Usta Muhammad, Jafferabad district where he was briefed about ongoing rescue and relief operations. COAS met with the troops and appreciated their efforts for the flood affecties.COAS visited flood relief and medical camps and spent time with the locals to have on ground information about plans to mitigate their problems. COAS also visited Sui .

COAS met Local elders and inquired about their well being and issues. Local elders thanked COAS for reaching out to them in the most difficult time in their life. 

Later , COAS visited Military College Sui where he was briefed about different training and educational facilities. He interacted with the faculty and students and appreciated the educational and training standard of institution. Faculty and Students thanked Pak Army for providing opportunity for them to compete at National level.

It is pertinent to mention that Military College Sui was established in 2011 and its cadets have shown extraordinary results.